THERE was little doubt that Joannie Pony enjoyed her Queensland campaign last year and now, some six months since the Bernie Hewitt-trained mare returned, she is finding her stride back at home.
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At the Parkes Harness Racing Club’s meeting on Thursday night she produced what has been her best performance since returning from the sunshine state, taking out the Darriwell Stud Pace (1,660 metres) in a 1:57.5 mile rate.
That made it back-to-back successes after she won on her home track – the Bathurst Paceway – on April 11.
During her time north, in which she raced at both Albion Park and on the Gold Coast, the Life Sign x Macrandra five-year-old picked up a win and three placings.
Conditions during that month-long campaign suited Joannie Pony more than what she encountered at Bathurst.
“The style of racing up there probably suited her more than the tighter track at Bathurst,” Hewitt admitted upon returning to his Georges Plains base.
“She usually likes to come off the speed with a late run and on the bigger tracks she can do that easier. If she gets back here it gets very tough for her.”
It was coming off the speed at Parkes that landed Joannie Pony consecutive wins for just the second time in her career, driver Stephen Maguire completing the double.
Going from barrier two at Parkes, Joannie Pony was crossed early as Nathan Townsend got Burra Sullivan to the lead after zipping away from barrier five.
Another Bathurst district chance in The Wifes Calling came hunting for the lead with Michael Munro in the gig, but eventually
settled in the death seat.
It meant Joannie Pony sat in third through a 28.4 seconds opening quarter and, while the field continued to jostle for position, Maguire was happy to remain off the pace.
Tulhurst Courage came three wide on
the bell and, with some 600m to run, The Wifes Calling was spent and began to drop back.
It meant Joannie Pony was stuck on the pegs without a run as Tulhurst Courage tackled Burra Sullivan for the lead, but down the home straight she finally got her chance.
Eglinton trainer-driver Nathan Hurst hit the front with Tulhurst Courage, but Maguire had put Joannie Pony into the clear and she was travelling even better.
In the end, Joannie Pony ($2.90 favourite) proved too strong, winning by 1.5m after
getting home in a 29.5 split. It was her second victory from 17 starts this season.
Tulhurst Courage ($7.50) was second,
5.9m ahead of third-placed Burra Sullivan ($6.60).
Hewitt made it a winning double for his stables later in the evening when he drove Regal Point ($9.40) to success in the Three Year Old Pace (1,660m).