Like a Christmas present that you can’t unwrap. And when you can finally open it, you’ve got to put it back in the box for a while before getting it out again.
That’s how owner-breeder Bruce Wyborn describes his wonder mare Susan Is Her Name, who has overcome serious injury to emerge as the talk of the trotting world with a stunning win in last weekend’s Macarthur Mile.
The five-year-old daughter of Sebastian K inflicted megastar rival Keayang Zahara’s first career defeat with a scintillating sprint to claim the Group 1 contest at Menangle in an eye-watering mile rate of 1:51.7.
That took her own record to 11 wins from 17 starts and prizemoney earnings up over $200,000.
Now, the attention turns to rest and rehabilitation for Susan Is Her Name before a tilt at the upcoming Inter Dominion carnival in Wyborn’s home state of Queensland.
“She is definitely, by far, my biggest thrill,” says Wyborn, who bred Susan Is Her Name from his mare Hands Of A Star. “It’s incredible. I’m just a battler, I’ve got a small team. I rent some land off my mate to keep the spellers and breeders in, and it’s just been an absolute pleasure to have this horse.
“It’s a little frustrating sometimes, but it’s been a hell of a ride.”
Susan Is Her Name started with Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen in Queensland before being sent to master Victorian horsewoman Emma Stewart after two starts in mid-2022. She’s had just 15 runs since, with a two-year-old Breeders Crown triumph and three-year-old Vicbred Super Series victory the highlights before Saturday night’s incredible win at Menangle.
Wyborn says Stewart and her team will care for Susan Is Her Name’s troublesome leg across the next few weeks before ramping up her training ahead of the opening round of Inter Dominion Trotting Championship heats at Albion Park on July 5.
“She’s had a sesamoid chip as a three-year-old and it’s a big hassle with her leg. People don’t realise how much major work they have to do on that leg to keep it good,” he said.
“We brought her back as a four-year-old, but at the end of those three starts she’d had enough on the leg. She had another seven-month spell and I’ve never seen her go straighter. They’ve got the leg well under control at the moment, but it takes a lot of work and there’s a lot of maintenance done on that leg.”
Punters quickly pounced on Susan Is Her Name for the Inter Dominion in the moments after her victory on Saturday, backing her from a double figure quote into as short as $5 to claim the grand final on July 19.
She is expected to rocket up the series standings from her current position of 38 when the second round of rankings is released tomorrow (May 14).
“The first round of heats is over 2100m and she’s a 2200m specialist. And as the distances get bigger, I expect her to get better,” Wyborn says. “Just because she’s got that turn of electricity.
“She can sit there and put that turn of speed on. She could sit there all day and then still rip a really good quarter.”
Pictures: Club Menangle