Reinsman David Morris drove Pizza Queen in Saturday night's NSW Trotters Oaks Photo by Ashlea Brennan
TRAINER Anton Golino and owner Pat Driscoll combined to win Saturday night’s NSW Trotters Oaks at Tabcorp Park Menangle with talented filly Pizza Queen. The daughter of Credit Winner was purchased from the 2014 Harrisburg Sale for $100,000 and produced a big upset as she ran down short priced favourite High Gait in the shadows of the winning post.
Golino had three runners in the NSW Oaks and Pizza Queen was the longest priced filly of his trio.
“I thought she would need a good trip to win but in saying that she has always had ability and she did run second and third behind High Gait in the heats of the Need For Speed,” Golino said.
“I wasn’t overly confident or anything but I thought she’d be in the finish with the right run. Her work in the lead up to the Oaks was great and she had come on a fair bit in the last fortnight.”
Pizza Queen is out of top race mare Armbro Domino. She won $275,000 during her career on the track and was sold for $260,000 after the birth of her first foal in 2008.
“Pizza Queen is beautifully bred, she’s by Credit Winner, he is a great sire in America and he stands in New York. Her mother performed very well on the track.”
“Noel Daley picked her out for us from Harrisburg, he did all the research and he got it right so we’re very happy.”
While Golino has decided to keep fourth-placed finisher Courchevel in Sydney for next Saturday night’s NSW Trotters Derby, Pizza Queen and Dream Island will return to Victoria.
“They’ll both come home for the Victorian Oaks, they left Sydney on Monday. Courchevel’s run was really good on Saturday night, she got a little bit too far back but she got home well and hit the line strongly.
“Courchevel is awkwardly gaited, she’s got a lot of ability when she does everything right. She’s had a few little niggling issues, we’re starting to get on top of them but I think she’ll develop into a very nice mare next season.”
Golino confirmed he has enjoyed the transition from New South Wales to Victoria.
“Yes I’m loving it, there are plenty of racetracks to pick from. The farm is coming along very well and full credit must go to Pat Driscoll because he has worked his butt off to get this place up and going.
“We’re getting there slowly, it’s been a good time here so far but winter’s coming up and I’m definitely not looking forward to that.”
Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 31 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by an industry-appointed Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
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