Purchased as a tried horse for just $1500, the Nick Olive-trained Pray To God continues to perform better than her owners’ initial aspirations.
The five-year-old lines up at the Sapphire Coast on Sunday looking to further her favourable bank balance in the Pambula & Bega Carpet Court Jazz Festival Cup.
Owned by the Redbank North syndicate headed by Jamie Middleton, Pray To God came to Canberra-based Olive as a maiden galloper.
The mare has subsequently won six races and more than $50,000 in prizemoney.
“When the owners, who are breeders, first approached me they asked to give her a go and see if I could win a race with her,” Olive said.
“When I got her going, it didn’t take long to see she went pretty good, especially for a horse that only cost $1500.
“She’s proven a handy buy.”
All of Pray To God’s wins have come between 900 and 1000m but on Sunday the daughter of Stravinsky steps up to 1200m.
“There’s no doubt she’s proven very effective over 1000 metres,” Olive said.
“Certainly the 1200 metres is the query but I’m confident she’ll handle it.
“She’s not very big but puts herself into a race, gives herself every chance.
“Her work’s been very good, solid since Canberra. I think she’s going to be very hard to beat on Sunday.”
Olive said the mare’s best performances came when fresh and racing on top of the ground.
“I tend to space her races to keep her fresh which she loves,” he said.
“And given a dry track she’s most effective.
“I’d love to take her to town (Sydney) and win a race but at this time of year the tracks there just aren’t suitable.”
Pray To God resumed from a 30-day break to score a neck win over Commandare in a Canberra 1000m Benchmark 71 event on May 20.
The mare has drawn ideally in barrier two and will carry 56.5kg with Michael Travers aboard.
Olive also mentioned Zariz mare Alizarin Gem as one of the stable’s other main hopes in the Deane’s Transit Group, Soul Quest Travel Benchmark 50 Hcp (1400m).
“Her work has been very good since being narrowly beaten first-up at Wagga. She’s definitely come on again,” Olive said.
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