Eye Keep Smiling winning the 2025 Golden Girl - Photo Dan Costello
MIGHTY mare Eye Keep Smiling snared herself another year on the racetrack with the greatest performance of her career so far in last night’s $150,000 Group 1 Golden Girl at Albion Park.
The five-year-old became the first mare to break the 1min50sec barrier at Albion Park when she did it sitting parked outside her main danger, Steno, in a 1min49.9sec mile rate for 1660m.
Eye Keep Smiling successfully defended her Golden Girl title and landed her 10th successive win in the mightiest of fashion.
Not only did she outstay Steno, but she also held-off the dangerous Tay Tay, who had the perfect stalking trip behind the leader.
It took her record to 27 wins (and five seconds) from just 38 starts and she has now banked almost $780,000.
“She’s just awesome. That’s some sort of effort to do the work she did in that time. She just knows how to win,” trainer-driver Luke McCarthy said.
“I knew tonight would be a real challenge as I’ve got huge respect for Steno, but my girl was fantastic.”
Owner-breeder Jackie Gibson of Success Stud said she was happy to put retirement plans on hold.
“If Luke’s keen and while she’s so fit and healthy, we’d been keen to race on,” she said.
“Luke’s done a wonderful job with her. She’s loving racing and never gone better.”
Although McCarthy has focused on racing her own sex since finishing fifth in last year’s TAB Eureka, he may dabble with taking on the boys next campaign.
“She’s earned a break now,” he said. “But when she comes back I won’t be afraid to race the boys, although I’d like to avoid Leap To Fame.
“Maybe a race like the Victoria Cup if she’s back and firing in time.
“Certainly those NSW Carnival of Cups are races I’m looking at with her.”
Eye Keep Smiling is also a mum. Her first foal, born through embryo transfer, is a colt by Bettors Delight and will be sold at the Nutrien Sydney sales next March.
“If we’re racing her on, I’m hoping Luke gives me the chance to bring her home for a bit and flush another embryo from her for this season,” Gibson said.
PHOTO: Dan Costello
