She’s better.
Much better in fact.
When pacer Village Art saluted at Bendigo harness racing last Wednesday night it was her third win and 12th top three finish in 17 starts for experienced Nanneella horseman Col Godden.
And those wins and placings have amounted to a healthy $22,190 in prize money earnings.
It's not a bad record for a 10-year-old mare.
Godden did her owner a favour by giving her one more chance on the racetrack despite her age.
And not only did Village Art salute at Bendigo but she also posted a blistering PB 1.53.0 mile rate for the 1690m trip.
This slashed a staggering five seconds off her previous PB of 1.58.0 recorded in her win at Shepparton on May 22 over a similar distance.
Bred and owned by Barham trots stalwart Ruth Arthur, Village Art had won only three races in 45 tries before Godden took over her training.
He has doubled that total of wins but has also racked up 10 other top three finishes since he took over the Village Jasper mare’s training earlier this year.
Her other two wins under Godden’s training were achieved on the Shepparton track where she has also secured nine other top three finishes.
In her latest win the sit-sprinter enjoyed the run of the race on the back of the pacesetter Seemepearlywhites and then finished hard along the sprint lane to account for that pacer and Our American Princess.
Godden is not sure how much longer the Village Art fairytale can continue for.
‘‘She’s got bad legs and she feels her runs now and pulls up a bit sore after her races. But she has certainly responded to a bit of love and attention and does most of her training in my water walker,’’ Godden said.
Village Art had not raced since July last year and was heading for the life of a broodmare when Godden got the call from her owner to give her one more chance on the racetrack.
A chance she certainly has made the most of.
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