By Jonny Turner
The summer looks bright for Pixie after she ran to a deserved win at Rangiora on Wednesday.
The mare hadn’t seen the standing start tapes on race day in more than a year but that mattered little when she made a flying beginning to set up her victory in race 5.
After Sheree Tomlinson was able to secure the Brad Mowbray trained mare a perfect run in the trail she took full advantage to score a decisive win.
“She has just been looking for the right run and today she got it,” Mowbray said.
“She did a little bit to get the top, but to trail and up the passing lane is what she has been looking for.”
“She was due it and she got it.”
Pixie’s standing start manners should be a crucial weapon she can use throughout the summer with plenty of short course standing start races coming up.
“I think the 2600m sees her out but the 2000m is ideal,” Mowbray said.
“The mobile today was 2600m so we put her in the stand.”
“She has obviously got the manners, we were confident she could step away but you can never be sure.”
Pixie was bred by Glynyss Cooper and she is raced by her husband Frank, both of Te Awamutu.
The Coopers also have Pixie’s half-sister Gypsy in the Mowbray stable.
After producing consistent form, including a last-start fifth at Ashburton, the older sister could well be registering a win soon, too.
“Of all mine, she hung onto her winter coat the longest,” Mowbray said.
“On her day she is probably better than her rating.”
“She has been racing pretty well and hopefully can get one soon too.”
Both Pixie and Gypsy and from Holmes Hanover mare Pixel.
The Coopers have raced four generations of the family including Pixie’s granddam Liberty Belle and her great granddam Belle Amie.