Tough mare Red Tracer made it back to back wins in the Group 2 $200,000 Patinack Farm Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) with another gutsy win at Eagle Farm today.
Red Tracer ploughed through the mud in taking out last year’s Dane Ripper Stakes before finishing fourth to Pear Tart in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm and trainer Chris Waller will line her up in the Group 1 for the fillies and mares again in two weeks.
Red Tracer showed her true class carrying 59.5kg and jumping from gate sixteen in the eighteen horse field.
Nash Rawiller was able to get the mare over from the wide gate after beginning well and was then was happy to sit quiet when Steps In Time and Arctic Flight put plenty of pace on in the middle stages.
Waller is certain that Red Tracer is ready to claim her first Group 1 in two weeks after being the runner-up twice during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
“If there has ever been a Group 1 horse that hasn’t won one well it’s her and in my heart she is a Group 1 horse,” Waller said.
“She’s been down by the barest of margins with big weights in some really good Group 1 races so she will get her turn, if it’s not in two weeks time maybe it is next season. Sure she has done enough to prove herself for another turn.”
Waller was also impressed with the way Red Tracer dug deep over the final 50m when challenged by Floria up along the inside with on pace runner Arctic Flight also fighting back on the outside.