SMALL in stature, big in heart.
Nothing sums up star trotter Pink Galahs better after the Matthew Craven-trained mare scored its fifth group one victory on Saturday night.
Lining up in a quality field of squaregaiters, the daughter of Skyvalley defied the odds and the boys to claim back-to-back Bill Collins Trotters Sprint victories.
Camped behind Majestuoso, the hot $1.40 favourite, for the majority of the race, Craven and Pink Galahs waited until the home straight to pounce.
Unleashing a trademark burst, the four year-old edged to the outside of Majestuoso and grew wings, sticking its head out in the nick of time to get the bob.
Sleepee, which had sat on Pink Galahs’ back the entire race, was also advancing quickly on the inside, but the little mare did enough to withstand its challenge.
Craven’s emotions got the better of him following the event, with the trainer-driver still in disbelief that his horse had won.
“To be honest I didn’t think I had won, I thought I’d just missed so I couldn’t believe it initially,”Craven said.
“To then let it sink in and realise we had won was fantastic.
“I get quite emotional because she’s a little bit special to us and we knew we had to improve from last week to get close to Majestuoso and just to beat him (was huge).
“It was all him before and after the line and then any further Sleepee beats us all. She timed it to perfection and her will to win gives her amazing ability.”
Craven said Pink Galahs size often had people underestimating her ability.
But the little mare certainly knows how to punch above her doubters, and has done so often.
The trainer said the mare had taken his stable “on an amazing journey and given us huge thrills” over the past 12 months, which had culminated in a handful of group ones and more than $300,000 in prize money.
“Everyone who has come across shake their head initially when they see her but anyone who has had anything to do with her knows how unique and special she is,” Craven said.
“She’s her own individual character but in a good way and we took her out to the paddock on Monday and it was like she knew she had won.
“She was acting up and jumping up and down, bucking, standing on her back legs and spinning in circles like she knew she had won.
“The week before she was a little bit doey and knowing she hadn’t won she was moping around a bit. She’s a funny little character.
Craven said Pink Galahs owners – Caleb and Laura Lewis and Bryan Healy – also deserved plenty of credit for their support of his stable and star pupil.
“Caleb and Laura are huge supporters and very good friends of Sof (Arvidsson) and I so to do it with them is fantastic,” he said.
“It’s awesome to do it together and ideally they would be at the track experiencing it with us but I’m in touch with Caleb most days.
“His two little girls Zarla and Lexi absolutely love her too and are also getting old enough now to understand what it’s all about.”
The general public have also been captivated by Pink Galahs.
“It’s very humbling and amazing to see how many people have reached out to her and her stature,” Craven said.
“Everyone seems to love her which is fantastic.
“Winning races like this is all we aim for and all our staff, Mum and Dad, my brothers, the people behind us like farriers, vets and feed stores help us along the way.
“We’ve got a lot of people to thank but it’s good to know there is a bit of joy in it for those people as well.”