A dream-come-true moment unfolded for Glenn Hunter last Saturday when Gatesys Gem took out the Group 1 Haras Des Trotteurs NSW Trotters Oaks.

The talented trotter, driven by Luke McCarthy, gapped her rivals at the 400-metre mark but was so far in front she began to switch off and nearly got run down at the end by the Jess Tubbs-trained Tracy The Jet. She held on to win by a neck.

“This one was pretty special because Mum (Rhonda) owns her, and she never really goes to the races,” Hunter shared. “But she came up with me and got to witness her winning a Group 1.”

"We left Dad (Chris) at home doing all the work!" Hunter laughed. "It's a real family affair. I couldn’t do it without them."

“It was a career highlight, to be honest,” said Hunter.

“I’ve won one other Group 1, but that was a Redwood with a two-year-old trotter in 2020 with I See Icy Earl. For this one, though, she (Gatesys Gem) had to travel.”

“I thought she probably should have won one big one last year, so it’s a bit of redemption, probably.”

The smart filly placed in multiple feature races last year and finished fourth in the Group 1 On A Streak Vicbred Super Series.

“She’s always been that little bit unlucky, through her fault or my fault or a bit of both,” Hunter admitted. 

“I was more relieved and excited that she finally did get a big one next to her name.”

Glenn Hunter, based in Trafalgar, made the over nine-hour trip to compete in the Trotters Oaks and Derby double in Sydney with his stable star filly, marking her first trip away from home.

“She travelled up really well, which surprised me, as she had never been away from home, and she settled down at Luke’s really well. Better than I ever thought she would.”

“She was a bit wound up the first day, but then she’s just been out in the paddock for the rest of the time and settled in like it’s home.”

Last year, Keayang Zahara completed the NSW Trotters Oaks and Derby double, and Gatesys Gem is looking to follow in the super mare’s footsteps when she competes in the Success Stud NSW Trotters Derby this weekend.

“She has a harder barrier here (nine) and she’s up in class a bit with the boys, but she’s certainly well, and they will know she is there.”

Gatesys Gem ran a mile rate over a second faster (1:57.2) in her Oaks win than Keayang Zahara did last year (1:58.4), also setting a new class record for the track.

When asked if Hunter is looking to follow in the footsteps of Keayang Zahara:

“We certainly hope so.”

“Not as confident as they probably were, but that’s the plan.”

As for her plans after the New South Wales trip?

“She will probably come home after the Derby, and I think most of the important Victorian races are at the end of the year, so she might have a short spell. It’s reassuring to know she will handle the travel if she needs to.”

 

Photos: Club Menangle / PacePix