SHELBOURNE trainer Kate Hargreaves made the most of a rare stint in the sulky to steer an emerging Lorimer Lady to a gutsy win at Tabcorp Park Melton on Tuesday.
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A third win in four starts continued a peak in form for the well-bred five-year-old mare, who has her trainer pondering exactly what the future might hold.
"When we bought her we thought we might improve her and might win a race with her, but she just keeps getting better and better," Hargreaves said.
"I'm not sure how far she might go to be honest.
"We don't have anything specifically in mind for her. We might take her back to Mildura next, depending on whether there is a suitable race, or maybe something locally."
The only non-win for Lady Lorimer in four starts for Hargreaves was a second at Echuca on October 3, when the mare lost ground on the final turn and only narrowly failed to haul in the winner.
The daughter of Courage Under Fire and Sneaknup again showed plenty of grit on Tuesday to mow down the front-running Bit Of A Dream in the shadows of the post, much to the delight of Hargreaves, who notched up her seventh training win of the season.
With the race restricted to drivers with less than 10 winners, it provided the chance for Hargreaves to make a return to the sulky for her first drive of the 2019-20 season.
"I like driving, I just don't get much of a chance, but this was the perfect opportunity," she said.
"Being a horse that I trained, it was extra exciting, as was being able to get a winner for the owners.
"Kim and Garry Collinson have just come on board with us this year, which was perfect timing, as Alex and I had just gone out on our own.
"They have been a massive support to us, so we are really grateful to them."
Evidence of her massive improvement under Hargreaves, Lady Lorimer had six runs before her arrival at Shelbourne for only one placing.
A productive season for the Hargreaves stable continued at Shepparton on Wednesday night when Bootleg Bert took out the final event.
The six-year-old gelding, who is owned by the Tasmania Trotting Club, notched up win number five at start number 51, with Alex Ashwood in the sulky.
It was Bootleg Bert's first win since his back-to-back successes at Horsham and Hamilton in June.
Meanwhile, a return for one of the stable's stars Well Defined is getting closer, with the five-year-old gelding set for a trial this weekend.
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