Raklou caps great week for Fahy

By Jonny Turner 

Southland owner Brendan Fahy’s horses have found their best form at the best possible time.

On Monday, Fahy got the thrill of seeing his star three-year-old Dreams Are Free break the national three-year-old record for 1700m with his effortless win in the Garrard's Sires' Stakes Sophomore Classic (Listed)at Ashburton on Labour Day.

On Thursday, it was Raklou who announced she was back to her best when she cleared out for a dominant win in The Rump/ Prime Cut Mobile Pace at Winton.

After bursting onto the scene as a two-year-old, Raklou couldn’t hold her form as an early three-year-old during a frustrating period for Fahy and trainer-driver Peter Hunter.

All signs have pointed towards the filly putting those niggles behind her this spring, which she proved in the best possible fashion at Winton.

“It is good to get her back, she had a rough season last year and it is good to get her back to where she can be,” Hunter said.

“It was a bit like long covid in human terms, you would think you had her right and she would get sick again.”

“Then you would get her right and she would get sick again, so with Brendan we gave her a good spell.”

Already a Group race winner in Canterbury, Raklou has earnt another trip north to the New Zealand Cup Carnival with her Winton victory. 

“I was in two minds about whether to go to Ashburton last week,” Hunter said.

“I thought she would need another week or two down here.”

“But I think with the way she went today she deserves to go north now.”