By MIKE DILLON
For Love and her Volksraad embryo would not let 57kg stop them winning yesterday's $20,000 Nathans Memorial at Ellerslie.
The classy mare was starting to run out of time to reproduce the stunning form of which she is capable.
She may have only one more career race, in the Marton Cup at Awapuni, and yesterday looked an ideal opportunity for the mum-to-be to show her wares.
In terms of class, For Love looked a grade above yesterday's rivals.
Her 8976 formline was a concern, but trainer Tony Cole and rider Reese Jones were happy the little mare was close to her best.
"That was a big run last start at Te Rapa," said Jones.
"She didn't really get the breaks and did well to run sixth behind Sokool.
"Each race she has had she has improved, because we haven't been sure whether she's in foal or not," said Cole.
"It was only two weeks ago that we got the positive reading to the Volksraad service."
The Marton Cup might get a decent shake from For Love - her finishing sprint yesterday under clear topweight was dashing in the extreme.
The horse to beat, Spit'N'Polish, went up to win the race at the 350m, but For Love swept past as if she had just joined in.
"She's got a remarkable sprint when she's on her game," said Jones. "When she's not she pulls like you wouldn't believe."
Said Cole: "We've only got a window of six weeks with her.
"If the option turns out to be the Marton Cup then the trip down there and the race will probably do her.
"I don't know that we'd want to tax her beyond that point because we don't want to lose this embryo."
That would mean missing a full year with For Love as a broodmare, a valuable commodity as the winner of last year's Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Counties.
"She's seven now and every year you miss from here is costing you dearly," said Cole.
After winning the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes, For Love suffered foot problems like many of Cole's horses and had to miss valuable racing while her hooves regrew.
Cole reports that his class sprinter, Travellin' Man, another to suffer, is in great shape for the $250,000 Sky City Railway on New Year's Day.
Sir Kinloch did well to hang on to win the Sunday Star-Times Open for the second year running, after racing keenly in front for most of the race.
Co-trainer Colin Jillings said the reason for the keenness was that Sir Kinloch was aiming at the $100,000 Jerry Clayton BMW Trophy (1600m) on the final day of the carnival on January 2 and that there was a lot of improvement in the dashing grey.
"That will bring him on nicely," said Jillings.
Lee Rutherford will again ride Sir Kinloch.
Racing: Pregnant For Love dashes home for win
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