Canterbury pacer A G’s White Socks has taken out one of Australasian harness racing’s premier races less than a month after being involved in one of its most shocking recent moments.
The Greg and Nina Hope-trained 6yr-old continued his open-class resurgence when leading throughout to win the group 1 Ballarat Cup in Victoria on Saturday night.
A G’s White Socks was having his first start since his driver, Ricky May, suffered a medical event in the Central Otago Cup at Omakau earlier this month.
May is recuperating after a being discharged from Christchurch Hospital, where he was fitted with a pacemaker.
The champion reinsman has indicated he hopes to resume race driving after his recovery.
His good progress means driver Greg Sugars is simply warming the seat behind A G’s White Socks.
"Ricky will be on next season — he's going to be as good as gold, he's going to be a brand-new man,’’ Greg Hope said.
A G’s White Socks’ group 1 victory came courtesy of a brilliant training performance from the Hope stable.
The pacer last completed a race with his admirable effort for fifth behind Ultimate Sniper in the Interdominion Pacing Championship at Alexandra Park in early December.
After Omakau, he travelled to Melbourne via Auckland and Sydney. Despite his arduous trek and lack of racing, the Hopes had A G’s White Socks at his peak on Saturday night.
“It was a pretty tough trip getting here," Hope said.
“We've always thought he was up with the very best. It's good to prove it on the big stage.
“We went in like an underdog, really. People don't think he's that good but we know from training him; we've always realised that he's pretty special.
“Hopefully he will go on with it now.’’
A G’s White Socks headed a New Zealand trifecta in the cup. All Stars pacers Self Assured and Chase Auckland produced big late finishes to take second and third respectively.
