3 minute read
No matter the race or situation, adaptable mare Mackellar’s Love is a winner and a long priced one at that.
The seven-year-old will be attempting to add another feature race to her list when she contests the $40,000 Gooree Park Gooree Cup (1400m) at Mudgee on Sunday.
Mackellar's Love, a daughter of Poet's Voice, took out last year's Cowra Cup as a $26 chance and was a $51 hope when she claimed the $50,000 Wayne Harris at Muswellbrook at her first start back from a spell.
Her trainer Cheryl Crockett only trains Mackellar's Love and one other horse – her time with the mare is very hands on and rewarding.
"I only train a couple and she is absolutely beautiful to work with," she said.
"She is a pleasure to have and has been so good for us winning from 1200 metres up to 1700 metres on most racing surfaces."
Mackellar's Love is again likely to be left out of calculations on Sunday which will only improve her odds again.
Crockett is unsure why Mackellar's Love is often a long shot, but she and the mare's owners aren't the least bit concerned.
"She has won two races at Mudgee and both times she has been at long odds," she said.
"The other day she was a $51 chance and won again first-up.
"I wanted to start her at Tamworth after that, but she was balloted out because of the number of stronger graded horses that entered.
"It means she will start at Mudgee on Sunday then if she pulls up well back-up a week later in the Parkes Cup."
Mackellar's Love is raced by Kim Harding and a group of friends and has been able to win several times and earn $157,000 prize money.
Adding to the interest for Crockett is her son, Cameron, has Zaunkonig starting in the same race.
Cheryl's late husband, Max, won the Mudgee Cup and the Gooree Mile a couple of times and she would love to see Mackellar's Love provide her with her first win in the race.
As for racing against her son, Cheryl hopes she can go one up.
"I only train two and Cameron has a lot more horses, but it is every person for themselves out on the track," she said.
"I do get pleasure out of beating him though."
Mackellar's Love has also won the Gilgandra Cup and the Mudgee Lion Cup and is unbeaten in two starts at the track.
She is one of three last start winners along with Herzegovina and A Magic Zariz.
The top weight Super has a huge weight of 64 kilograms and it will take a massive performance by him to win.
He hasn't raced for five weeks and is down in class to some degree on his recent appearances at Newcastle, Rosehill and Warwick Farm where he has been beaten under three lengths each time.
Crockett feels she has Mackellar's Love in peak condition despite not having raced for six weeks.
"I'm as happy as with her. She has a good gate and will race to her normal pattern," she said
"I'm confident, without being over confident, that she will run a big race."
Mackellar's Love is in the twilight of her career and on her race record and pedigree should make a success at stud.
Her dam, Margherita, is a 100 per cent producer, according to Crockett, and has provided many winners for the family.
"The whole family have won races with progeny of Mackellar's Love's dam so hopefully she can go well at stud when she is retired," Crockett said.
