Qld Mares For North America

06 July 2020
by Chris Barsby

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Talented Queensland mares Demeter and Laughing Emoji are the latest recruits bound for the ever increasing North American market.

Buoyed by the deeds of world champion pacing mare Shartin, the appetite for ‘downunder’ pacing mares has hit fever pitch.

And the performance across the weekend of former Victorian mare Soho Burning Love at the Meadowlands winning the Mares Open in 1:48.1 has further underlined the quality heading north in recent seasons.

Connections of both Demeter and Laughing Emoji accepted offers they couldn’t refuse.

Demeter, trained by former Leeton horseman Reece Maguire has proven to be an outstanding money-spinner since coming to the Sunshine State where she has won four of her nine starts.

All four victories took place at Albion Park.

Overall, Demeter has won 10 of her 40 starts to date.

In her first start at the famed Breakfast Creek oval, the Art Major – Weka Lass mare took a personal best time of 1:54.2.

At her most recent start, Demeter finished second behind boom pacer Speech Is Silver at Albion Park on June 6 in a time of 1:56.9 for 2138m.

Demeter is a half-sister to talented Victorian based mare Reciprocity (16 wins - $158k).

Meanwhile, Laughing Emoji also created a tidy record in Brisbane following her purchase from New Zealand as a three-year-old.

The big striding Mach Three mare was prepared by Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen and all of her 11 (from 53 starts) were recorded on Australian soil.

Laughing Emoji was purchased from the south island of New Zealand following her second start.

Nine of her victories took place at Albion Park while she also registered a victory on the half mile Redcliffe circuit.

Her best winning mile rate of 1:52.9 took place at Menangle during a Sydney campaign back in 2018.

This season, Laughing Emoji has won seven races.

At her final Australian start, Laughing Emoji finished fifth at Albion Park behind Corsini in a time of 1:57.1 after being caught without cover.