For a $15,000 buy, Reinette has already performed well beyond owner Rick Nafranec’s expectations this season.
The two-year-old has scored four wins from seven starts, including the Group 3 Champagne Classic (2130m) and Diamond Classic Heat (2130m).
She has amassed almost $50,000 of prize money in doing so.
The filly has the chance to claim another feature win in this Friday’s Diamond Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park and continue the dream start to her career.
A win in the Group 2 event would also be enough to take Reinette’s earnings over the $100,000 mark.
Nafranec’s father Frank trains the filly, while his brother Adam is also among the ownership group.
Nafranec said it had been a pleasant surprise to watch Reinette match it with the best two-year-old fillies in the state.
“She only cost us $15,000, so she’s probably one of the cheapest buys in Friday’s field,” Nafranec told Racing WA Harness.
“She’s exceeded all of our expectations and she’s a really nice little horse.
“A couple in the ownership group are first-time owners as well, so they’re getting a good introduction to owning a horse.”
While beating the colts and geldings in the Champagne Classic may have seemed like a tall order for Reinette, it pales into insignificance at the task that awaits her on Friday.
The Vincent filly, to be driven again by Trent Wheeler on Friday, will have to overcome barrier nine in the Diamond, while fellow heat winners Bettagetonpip and Copper Head Lady have drawn barrier one and two respectively.
Fellow exciting fillies Bull Shark Betty (barrier three), Queen Of All (seven) and Jaxs Ideal (10) all have kinder draws to contend with than Reinette.
Nafranec said a recent spell had been beneficial for Reinette and gave him confidence she was better placed to overcome a sticky draw.
“The barrier is disappointing, but we will have a discussion with Trent about what we do,” he said.
“She’s got good gate speed, but she also has a nice sprint if we decide to go back.
“She’s a lot more relaxed this time in, whereas she was a bit on edge early on.
“She’s matured in the nine weeks she had off and we are as happy as we can be with her work.
“With the right type of run and a bit of luck she should run well this week.”
Reinette is set to head towards the $225,000 Westbred Classic on W Night next month, while the $150,000 Golden Slipper is also a potential target.
Nafranec, who also trains a small team of horses, said it would be a big thrill if Reinette featured prominently in the lucrative events.
“That win in the Champagne was the biggest win we’ve had,” he said.
“If we could win one of these upcoming races it’d be great, and we’d certainly take it if she was good enough to win both.
“Unless we got a massive offer for her, she won’t leave our property.”
Tim Walker
Image - Pacepix