Michelle Caig's win "enough to bring me to tears"

By Jonny Turner 

Michelle Caig enjoyed her most thrilling moment in harness racing when Penelope Lane turned the Group 3 The Dark Horse into a one-horse race.

The mare powered away to an unassailable lead on the home turn for trainer-driver Brad Williamson in the mares’ trotting feature.

A prominent breeder and seller of her stock at the national yearling sales, Caig kept and races Penelope Lane with the plan of adding her to her broodmare band.

That decision led to the trotting mare giving her Winton owner her biggest thrill in harness racing.

“I am very proud of her, I have never really managed to keep racehorses I always sell them at the sales.

“I had to keep something out of City Lane for my broodmare band and it has been a good choice.”

“It is a completely different feeling and enough to bring me to tears.”

Penelope Lane has shown plenty of talent in her short career but it wasn’t on show in prior start in the Group 3 Jasmyn’s Gift Stakes at Oamaru last month.

Williamson worked to get the mare back to her best after her head-scratching 11th and he clearly did an outstanding job.

“It has been a very long four and a half weeks to tell you the truth and Brad has got her back to her best,” Caig said.

“I owe him a lot.”

Williamson admitted that his mare turning around her shock last start result meant her Group 3 win brought extra satisfaction.

“It was a bit hair-raising for her to run like she did at Oamaru, with her being such a nice horse,” the trainer-driver said. 

“I’ve always thought she was one of my better horses.”

“We’ve gone back to the drawing board and she’s come into today fresh and shown what we were hopeful and know that she can do.”

Penelope Lane set the fastest winning time of the three editions of The Dark Horse when stopping the clock in 2-46.8.

Williamson took the mare straight to the lead and set a strong pace, so much so that victory barely ever looked in doubt.

The Oamaru reinsman admitted the victory was as easy as it looked.

“She won with a bit in hand, I didn’t pull the plugs or anything, she won really well today.”

Penelope Lane left the handicapped runners in The Dark Horse with what proved to be an impossible winning task.

Runner-up Princess Sadie and third placegetter Dynasty chased the tearaway winner hard to fill the minor placings.