Rocking horse brought to life by loved ones

Rusty Peaches added to a growing legend when he led from start to finish to win the Country Challenge Heat (1200m) at the Bunbury Turf Club on Thursday.

Starting from barrier two, the Michael Lane-trained gelding jumped quickest and was first to the turn before holding off the fast-finishing pack to claim his third victory in eight starts. Carrying 58kg, Rusty Peaches ($3.60) thundered down the home straight beating Let’s Buy Iht by one and a quarter lengths.

Named in memory of Troy and Olivia Gard, a Bunbury father who died suddenly and his daughter who died of cancer, Rusty Peaches holds a special meaning for his owners, who include Troy’s wife and friends of the family.

“Olivia died of brain cancer when she was just four years old and her rocking horse was called Rusty Peaches,” part owner Mark Lewis said.

“A lot of the guys who own Rusty Peaches were mates of Troy and the family and so we decided to name the horse in their honour.”

Lewis said he was over the moon with the four-year-old gelding’s performance to date, which has yielded six top three finishes.

“Not many horses actually get to a level where they start a race and an even smaller percentage has a win,” he said.

“Getting one win out of him was fantastic but to see him maturing into an exciting prospect is very pleasing.

“That said, we always knew we were onto a winner.

“Whenever Rusty Peaches is out there racing we know Troy and Olivia are along for the ride too — not adding any weight of course.”

Lane shared Lewis’ optimism for the horse and hoped to run the gelding in the Bunbury Stakes next year.

“He had a couple of trials before last week’s race which went really well and he also had some success up in Perth at the start of the year,” Lane said.

“Thursday was his first race back from a spell and he has definitely got a lot of improvement left in him.”

In Thursday’s other races, favourite Reset’s Mate ($2.30) beat Ihts Riveting by two lengths in the Digby Rodgers Handicap (2019m).

Storienda ($9) stormed home to win the Fleur Harker Handicap.