On Track - Summer 2019-20

8 The words bully, arrogant, handful and strong willed might not be the first words punters would choose to describe The Valley’s new Sprinting Queen Loving Gaby, but her strapper James Healy knows her better than most. The words tough, genuine, trier and classy may resonate more with the adoring racing public, words James also uses to describe his now Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes winning superstar. “You go and check every morning just to make sure she’s got four legs,” Healy says with a wry smile. He isn’t joking. “One morning she just fell to her knees saddling up and cut her head open, but that’s just Gaby.” Healy and Loving Gaby first met at the beginning of 2018 and have shared an unflappable bond ever since. One is an aspiring young horse trainer making the move to the big smoke to further his career, the other coming with a hefty price tag to fulfill and expectations to match. “She was a $500,000 filly and from day one you could tell she was worth every cent,” says Healy. “I think we arrived at the Caulfield stables the very same week and it’s been quite the journey since.” That price tag now looks all but a distant memory, with $1.68 million in prizemoney alone after the I Am Invincible filly maintained an undefeated record at The Valley, having also secured the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes in late September. Loving Gaby is the first foal from Maastricht, a New Zealand mare who finished third at The Valley in the 2015 Alister Clark Stakes for Team Hawkes. Such was Loving Gaby’s impact, even before her Group 1 triumph in October, her dam fetched $2.25 million earlier this year. But what turned out to be here crowning moment almost didn’t happen as Healy explains. “We had her set for a mile race, but she worked that well at Breakfast with the Best on Tuesday morning and clocked one of the quickest last 400 metres, the boys flipped and changed their minds.” Co-Trainer Dave Eustace told media post-race it was a ‘8.29am decision’ before 8:30am acceptances. LOVING GABY SHINES UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS By Ben Sporle, Racing & Media Executive James Healy (right) celebrates with Craig Williams and Loving Gaby after the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes.