La Gai Soleil toughs it out to win thrilling Glasshouse Handicap
Le Gai Soleil got the better of Dzsenifer in the shadows of the post to claim the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday afternoon.
The John O’Shea-trained mare was originally the first emergency for the $175,000 race, but 10 scratchings was enough to see her gain a start in the final field.
By Tavistock, the Sydneysider proved to be the superior horse on the wet track, getting the better of Gary Duncan’s mare late, in what was a ding-dong battle up the Corbould Park straight.
2022 Glasshouse Handicap Race Replay
The five-year-old mare headed into Saturday’s assignment third-up, following two lacklustre runs to kick off her campaign.
Despite the poor form, the classy mare was well backed, starting on the second line of betting at $7 with some online bookmakers – a betting move that the punters got right.
Winning rider Larry Cassidy has a good association with the Caloundra Cup meeting, having ridden Winx to victory in the 2015 Sunshine Coast Guineas – a race which is now named in the wonder mare’s honour as the Winx Guineas, which was taken out by Majestic Colour earlier in the program.
Cassidy said that the wet track “played into her hands” in the Glasshouse, as she had previously won five races on rain-affected tracks.
“I think the really wet, testing track really played into her hands,” he said.
“Obviously I watched her races and saw that she gets back but not that far back. They did run along and I just thought I’d better get moving from the 600, get to the outside and she comes at them and goes bang.
“I was in a bit of a tussle with the leader but she put pay to them.”