Unheralded mare Arabian Rose has provided Sunshine Coast trainer James Healy with his first stakes win, achieving a memorable hometown victory in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap at Caloundra.
The mare was initially placed as the third emergency when the final field was confirmed, and Healy experienced a period of considerable anticipation before Arabian Rose secured a start due to scratchings.
“It has been the plan for a long time and when the ‘noms’ came out, I thought we were absolutely ‘none’,” Healy stated.
“But the stars aligned.
“The Glasshouse is staying home, and we’ll go again next year.”
This triumph was particularly meaningful for jockey Tiffani Brooker, who had been the mare’s regular rider in the early part of her career. A prior ride on the four-year-old at Caloundra in December last year was, by her own admission, a “bum steer”.
Rather than being discouraged, Brooker doubled down on her efforts and worked assiduously to regain the ride, with her perseverance yielding the ultimate reward in Saturday’s running of the Glasshouse Handicap (1400m).
“I had to sit on the sidelines for a little bit after a bum steer last preparation,” Brooker commented.
“I had a bit of success on her early days, but I did my time, and I kept showing up.
“I thought at the end of the carnival, if she gets a light weight, I might be back on her, just keep showing up.
“James was a bit nervous before the race and I said, ‘don’t worry, I’ll give her her chance and if she’s good enough, she’ll win.”
Arabian Rose ($19) obliged, forging ahead in the straight and finding the necessary determination for Brooker to narrowly defeat Cifrado ($12), with Anemacore ($12) finishing third in a close finish where the top three horses were separated by less than half a length.
Arabian Rose caused a significant upset for many followers of the racing markets, returning a dividend of $19 with leading Aussie betting sites, while Cifrado and Anemacore, both starting at $12, had attracted considerable interest across betting apps Australia.
