Kerry Parker knows what a good chance in a big race is, and his confidence is growing with Hope In Your Heart heading into the Golden Eagle at Rosehill on Saturday.
Forgotten in betting at around the $31 mark, Hope In Your Heart could be the horse to deliver a boom result to reward 20 years of faith from Alex and Deidre Illes in the Kembla Grange trainer.
Bargain buy Hope In Your Heart has proven a good money-spinner for connections.Credit:Getty
“They have supported me for so long, and this mare has started winning black type and trophies for them, which has been fantastic,” Parker said.
“She gets to the Golden Eagle with basically the preparation I have wanted, winning three in a row, and she is the best I have had her.”
Parker has a measure of top-liners and is one of those trainers that makes the most of his opportunities. He had no qualms in comparing Hope In Your Heart to Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Think It Over.
They are both horses that are underrated and continuously get under punters’ guards.
“You learn not to get too confident in this game, but it is a bit like Think It Over. She keeps winning and the price keeps getting longer,” Parker said. “It’s not bad if your having a bet.
“I know my horse is going well, and I know she will run well.
“I was pretty happy when we got in the race on Tuesday because you can’t win it from home, and I’m going into it thinking she will run better than that price.”
The $4.20 favourite is a European blueblood in Light Infantry, but Hope In Your Heart has her share of colonial blood, being a daughter of Dundeel out of a Montjeu mare, Hayaat, which only brought $500 in the sales ring in 2011.
“Deidre actually went and paid $2000 for her from the person, who bought her because they had another mare in the family,” Parker explained. “She has been a good mare to all of us since, because she has had a few city winners, including Tampering and Heartlings.
“This girl has always been a bit better than the others but just needed to mature, and we are seeing how good she is now.”
Hope In Your Heart has won the Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle and the Angst Stakes at her past two appearances with late surges and a desire for victory.
It is a style that should be suited in the Golden Eagle, which is a race stacked with leaders and speed. Parker believes it is a big advantage to the strongest stayer in the race for $10 million on Saturday.
“She is a mare that is probably looking for a bit further than the 1500m, so when I was working out how to get here I knew the Angst over the mile was the right race,” Parker said.
“The only thing that went wrong was it was delayed by a week, so we only had the two weeks into the Golden Eagle rather than three.
“But she came out of that very well, and we have been able to keep her fresh for this race.”
Parker’s instructions to Jason Collett will be simple on Saturday: make sure Hope In Your Heart relaxes and gets plenty of room in the straight.
“If you look at her last two wins, she has been given a bit a space in the straight and has really let down,” Parker said. “She is a mare that doesn’t like to be around other horses, but give her clear air and she will be there for you.
“I think she will show everyone how good she really is on the weekend.”
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