Wonder mare saved best for last?

CONNECTIONS of exciting young trotter The Locomotive hope his dam has left her best for last.

By Muscle Mass, the Wayne Potter-trained freshman is from the incomparable La Coocaracha.

One of the greatest trotting mares produced in the southern hemisphere, La Coocaracha won six Group Ones on both sides of the Tasman during the early 2000s .

As a broodmare La Coocaracha is exceeding her racing feats.

Recently retired from breeding, the matron boasts 10 winners from 11 starters, including three Group One winners and a Group Two winner.

La Coocaracha is also the grand dam of a Group One and two Group Three winners,

La Coocaracha’s most successful foal – Dance Craze – was trained by Anton Golino to register 24 wins and 15 placings from 50 starts for more than $550,000 in prizemoney.

Dance Craze’s victories include three Group Ones – the 2017 Breeders’ Crown Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies’ Final, 2019 Great Southern Star and 2020 Australian Trotting Grand Prix.

Another of Dance Craze’s triumphs came in the 2019 The La Coocaracha at Club Menangle.

Golino also won the 2017 and ’18 editions with Glenferrie Burn.

As for the wonder mare’s latest offering, The Locomotive became her third Group One star by capturing a Nutrien Final at Club Menangle last night.

Leading throughout from barrier six, The Locomotive provided Nathan Jack with an armchair drive as he cruised to an 18-metre win from Stevie Gee, with Mipersonaljet a head away third.

Rating 2:03.1 over 2300 metres, The Locomotive took his record to three wins and a second from four starts.

“He’s a very nice type,” Potter said. “He’s still learning what it’s about but has shown plenty of ability.

“He’ll have a couple of easy days now before we work towards The Redwood Classic.

“After that he has the Breeders’ Crown and Sires’ later in the year.

“He won’t do much between the those races and will remain relatively lightly-raced this season.”