Image: Racing Photography.
Following her win at Bathurst on Monday, Mudgee mare Life’s A Party is now one of, if not the horse to beat in next week’s Country Championships Central Districts qualifier.
Contesting the 1200m Class 4 Preview, the Mark Jones-trained five-year-old had Grant Buckley in the saddle, and the pair raced in third position as Moruya visitor Super Sprocket (Nick Heywood, $13) led the field along at a good clip.
On the home straight, the Dean Mirfin-trained East Harlem (Mathew Cahill, $3.30) went up to Super Sprocket, with Life’s A Party ($2.15) still two lengths off the leading pair.
The Star Turn mare showed a good turn of foot from the 200m pole and ranged up on East Harlem before finishing strongly and putting almost a length-and-a-half on her Bathurst rival.
“The early pace did us a big favour,” Jones told NSW Country and Picnic Racing.
“She got a good trail into the race and was really strong through the line.”
Racing in heavy conditions at Bathurst, Jones said he discovered more about his four-time winner.
“There were a couple of queries going into the race, and basically, it wasn’t supposed to be a heavy track,” Jones said.
“When we left, it was good, but they had a massive downpour between the second and third race, and every race went back half an hour, and it went to a heavy 8.
“We didn’t know if she could run on a heavy, and although she gave me the indication she would, now we know she can, and she did well.
“Plus, it is good to know that if there is pace on, she can sit off them and come home strongly.”
Bred and raced by Michael Inglis in Tumut, Life’s A Party has been in stellar form this preparation, earning connections just shy of $75,000.
She’s raced seven times for three wins and two seconds, notching victories at Wellington and Bathurst (x 2).
She also came second in town, beaten less than a half-length by the Brett Robb-trained Gallant Star in a 1200m Class Three Highway Handicap at Royal Randwick.
“Early on, she had a pretty bad run in town, but it was no fault of her own, and she’s better than that and has proven it ever since,” Jones said.
“This campaign, she’s won over $70,000 and three races, and you can’t be disappointed with that.
“She might not be very big, but she has a big motor and continues to try.”
The Mudgee Country Championship $150,000 heat is on Sunday, February 25. Life’s A Party will be 13 days between runs as she looks to qualify for the $1 million final at Royal Randwick on April 6.
Grant Buckley will keep the ride, but the big question is whether she can run 1400m.
“Yesterday (Monday) was 1200m and on a heavy 8, and I classify that as a 1300m run, and she was still going away from them,” Jones said.
“She also ran out the 1200m at Randwick, which is a good sign, and I am pretty confident that she will run out the 1400m.”
It’s not going to be a walk in the park for Life’s A Party, with the Central Districts qualifier always a good race that throws up some very interesting runners.
“Basically, I see Smart and Dapper (for Brett Thompson), which keeps stepping up to the plate, and a couple of times early in their careers, we raced against him and had his measure, but two starts back, we met in town, and he won,” Jones said.
“We were caught wide, and it was a good run, but he won the race, and he’s since come out and run a bottler and won at Newcastle, and to be honest, I didn’t know he had that type of speed.
“That’s the thing about this race; it is for up-and-coming horses and those on the improve, and it will be a good one.
“Mack Griffith has a couple, David Smith has one, and the Bathurst trainers will be there with their good horses.”
“For us, we’ll be there and give it a go. She went into that Class 4, and it has topped her off nicely, and we’ll keep ticking her over; hopefully, she is spot on for the race.”
The 2024 Country Championships kick off this weekend, commencing at Lismore on Saturday for the Northern Rivers qualifier before the Southern Districts heat at Albury on Sunday.
For more on the Country Championships, click here.
