Little An Sassy Breaks Through in RWWA Feature at Busselton
Little An Sassy with owner and trainer Heather Herbert.
Patience and perseverance paid off for Gary and Heather Herbert on Friday night when Little An Sassy got the win at Busselton in the RWWA feature, with the seven-year-old breaking through for her maiden win at start 34.
Gary and Heather took the mare on in early 2018, and after a handful of failed attempts on the track it was decided she would be sent to the breeding barn in 2019 with hopes the time would settle the ‘nutty’ mare. In 2020 she foaled a strong filly by locally stood Allwood Stud Farm Stallion Fly Like An Eagle and she was promptly put back in to work after weaning her foal.
Resuming in trials in July 2021, Little An Sassy completed four trials before she made her way back to the races in September and had only placed the once since then, but on Friday night the $34 shot started off the front line and stepped quickly, leading all the way in the Jack Sheedy Memorial RWWA Westbred Feature, claiming the win by 1.1m in 2:09:8 over the 2030m.
“We were quite confident actually that she would win, just the way she steps off the mark. Her mother won $100,000, a standing start horse,”
“She qualified a few years ago and then we put her in foal, she had just done my head in.” Gary Herbert said.
Heather’s faith in her mare ability never waivered though, but with a few issues with cross firing saw the Herbert duo agreeing that she needed time to develop and mature and it appears the time off did her the world of good.
“If it hadn’t been for Heather, she wouldn’t be here.” Gary Herbert said.
Being introduced into harness racing at a young age, Herbert got offered his first horse at 12 by Bob Pollock, which he would ride daily in the bush, and then when he and Heather later married, the pair got a horse together and have never looked back.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing though, with Gary lucky to be alive after his heart flat lined after a race in Kalgoorlie around 10 years ago, but not even a heart attack could stop the 72-year-old from getting back in the cart, with Herbert still continuing to breed a couple of foals every year or so and consistently having a horse or two in work.
“The paramedics said he was lucky that he was at the trots as they put the defibrillator on him and they had to do it three times and they said if he didn’t wake up this time, he was done for.” Heather Herbert said.
At 72 years of age, Herbert has copped his fair share of flack for still being out there and driving at his age, but the stables last two winners have been piloted by Herbert himself, and the 32-time winner has no plans of hanging up the reins just yet. When asked if he was considering retiring, Herbert joked ‘What for? I would die.’
Ashleigh Paikos