BLACK HABIT A GREAT HABIT

The win of consistent mare BLACK HABIT at Ascot yesterday was as sweet a victory as I have savoured for quite a while and one which brought a lot of enjoyment to a lot of people.

BLACK HABIT is owned by various members of the Walsh family who I have had a great and lasting association with for many many years. Yesterday just happened to be V&V Walsh day at the races with the family and their businesses in general sponsoring the whole meeting. When The Walsh family put on a party, they put on a party. The whole committee room was booked out and tables were filled with family and close friends.

The Walsh family have been sponsoring a meeting at the races for a number of years however this was the first time that one of their own gallopers was able to win on the day. Not only was it the first Saturday city winner for Peter for a while but also the first Saturday winner which Neal Henchie (Peter's brother in law) has ever been associated with. The celebrations went on long into the night as one would expect, not only because of the win but also the $17.00 win dividend proved to be very popular with all those assembled up stairs who stuck with the family horse.

BLACK HABIT has now won two of her last three starts however she has been racing for a while and will now be given a short let up before she is back for the Belmont winter season. There is no doubt that this mare appreciates the sting out of the track and with winter on our doorstep, it makes sense to have her racing during that time. She has been an unlucky mare on more than one occasion and yesterdays win was some compensation for a few that "got away."

I have no doubt that if this mare can enjoy more luck in her races in the future, there will be many more wins in store for her. She is more than capable of troubling the better company over the winter months.