Hardy stable find their winning lady

By Jordan Gerrans

Beaudesert’s Geoffrey Hardy can thank his son Clancy’s sharp eye for delivering bargain buy She's My Lady to his stable.

The Hardy barn was rewarded for their perseverance with the three-year-old filly on Tuesday afternoon at Dalby as She's My Lady broke maiden ranks at her 15^th career effort.

Hardy hails from Far North Queensland and has run his own pre-training and breaking-in business for Beaudesert trainers in recent years.

It is fair to say the daughter of Kiwi stallion Brutal had been a work in progress for the team, only registering one minor place finish at her 14 prior starts, which also came at Dalby in late March.

Hardy’s son Clancy saw the unraced youngster online for just $2,000 and following Tuesday’s almost two length victory over 1000 metres, she has banked a tick over $22,000.

Now with a maiden triumph under her belt, there is every chance she will go on with it from here and nab a couple more.

As well as training the filly, Hardy owns her outright.

“It was really good to see her win as we bought her sight unseen from a sale online,” Hardy said.

“She turned up to our place and she was very small, I haven’t measured her but she wouldn’t be 15 hands.

“Being so small, that turns a few people off her. She is really tiny. Initially we did not think we had a very good prospect but she has got better and better since she has gone on.

“We have had a few issues with her but she has got there.”

Ridden by Karl Zechner, She's My Lady was able to lead throughout from the inside alley on Tuesday at Dalby.

The filly is a daughter of Miss Ladybird who won a couple of races in Victoria during a short eight effort career.

Miss Ladybird is a daughter of champion sire Snitzel, which caught the Hardys' eye.

“My son really liked her breeding, Brutal and the mare, as well, Miss Ladybird,” the trainer said.

“She won two races in Melbourne. We liked the breeding side of it all with her. My son gives me a hand on the weekends or when he is on holidays, like he is now.

“He is very interested in breeding and that.”

Following Tuesday's win, She's My Lady is likely to head for a freshen-up and come back next campaign aiming to grab her second career victory.

A drop back in distance to sprint trips in recent starts played a key role in Tuesday's win, according to the trainer.

She's My Lady’s win was Hardy’s first since the 2019-20 season.

“Initially a jockey thought she would be better over 1400 metres or so, that is why we tried her over more ground,” the Beaudesert horseman said.

“She seemed to go better over the shorter trips so we stuck to that in her recent runs.

“I thought she would be right in this race at Dalby, probably more of a place chance than a win, so we were very happy to see her win.

“She has kept improving and done enough now, she will go out for a break now after this fair campaign.”

As well as She's My Lady, Hardy also prepares Good Day Mae and Saxon Slayer on top of breaking-in and pre-training gallopers for other Beaudesert trainers.

Hardy grew up on a cattle station near Ravenshoe in Far North Queensland before turning his hand to working with gallopers.