MARONG trainer Ken Taylor might have only one horse in his stable, but she's shaping as a fairly handy one.
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A mere six starts into her career, Raani has amassed an impressive three wins, highlighted by back-to-back victories at Melton and Charlton in the past two weeks.
The latest of those arrived at Charlton on Thursday, with the four-year-old mare having to do plenty of work in transit on the way to a tenacious 1.7m win over Itzexceptional, with Jilliby Mako back in third.
Taylor, who has trained no more than a few horses at a time off and on for the past 20 years, is not one for big statements,
But when pushed, even he concedes Raani might be the best horse he has had in his care.
"I've had a few that have won three or four races and others that have just won one, but this one might be the best," he said.
"I raced her mother (Baracks Angel) and won three races with her. (Raani's) only had six starts, so we will see what happens.
"She's been going alright in the grade she's been in at the moment - time will tell if there are more wins in her."
Taylor said his retirement from work had freed up more time to devote to Raani, who scored the first of her three wins at start number two at Shepparton in August.
Equally keen to see what the future holds for the exciting mare is Lockwood South freelance driver Neil McCallum, who has been on-board the four-year-old twice for a perfect strike-rate.
"I've been driving for Kenny for the past 20-odd years, on and off, but when this one started hitting the trialling stage, it was about the time I broke my back, so I never did that much with her earlier," he said.
"It's only now that the guy who has been driving her (Chris Svanosio) has been on a holiday that I've actually got a chance.
"Kenny bred her himself out of a little mare I drove a few times also - he's done a great job with her.
"There are not many horses going around who have had three wins in their first six starts, that's pretty hard to do."
McCallum is convinced Raani, whose sire Changeover won 29 of 66 races he contested in Australia and New Zealand for $2.3m in stakes earnings, including once at Lord's Raceway, can quickly add to his win record despite a further jump in class.
"(On Thursday) she did all the work .... now every time you win you go up in grade, so she is going to have to be driven a little bit differently, as she is going to keep striking better horses," he said.
"Kenny will play it by ear and see if he can pick out another race and find one suitable for her.
"Like any horse, once you win a few races you try and find the weakest race you can.
"Without going overboard, she is going along nicely. The best thing about her is the future is in front of her. You don't know where these little horses will end up.
"Having sat on her twice for two wins at Melton and Charlton, all she does is try.
"Kenny's going to have plenty of fun with her."
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