NO DRAMA HERE. THE MARE WAS JUST TOO GOOD!

By Graham Potter | Saturday, November 18, 2023

The Tony and Maddysen Sears trained Poetic Drama personifies a horse always ready to give of her best. The word ‘honest’ comes to mind, but that description probably doesn’t do her full justice.

In her latest preparation ... the second for the Sears yard ... the five-year-old chestnut mare has raced eight times for two wins, three runner-up finishes, and one fourth place, maintaining a lively level of consistency which has helped the daughter of Proisir gather a very healthy overall haul of $230 510 in career prize-money in twenty-seven starts.

Poetic Drama’s latest win, the fourth of her career, came in a BM78 Handicap over 1600m at the featured Metropolitan meeting at the Sunshine Coast on November 18 with top apprentice Cejay Graham guiding her fortunes from the saddle.

Graham had ridden Poetic Drama in her two runs leading into the Sunshine Coast assignment (for a second and a fifth-place finish, both over 1600 at Doomben and Eagle Farm respectively) and the experience that she gained from getting to know Poetic Drama previously was arguably a factor in Poetic Drama being able to surge to a strong victory ... because Graham rode it to perfection.

The number two barrier draw was always going to be a help as long as Graham ensured that Poetic Drama (the $3.90 second favourite) was quickly into stride. Box one was ticked with some authority ... Graham pushing Poetic Drama into the leading line within a matter of strides ... before settling the Sears trained runner on the rail in second then third place, in free galloping room tracking the leader, the $71 outsider, Vendidit, just two lengths off the frontrunner, with Always on Show ($8.50) holding down second place just three-quarters of a length front of ... and to the outside of Poetic Drama.

These three runners held their respective positions all the way through the sweep to the home turn and in the early part of the home straight. Vendidit was defying his $71 odds as he kicked on strongly to still hold a little over a two length advantage up front coming through the 200m mark, with the chase well-and-truly on amongst the runners behind him.

Poetic Drama was a little bit cramped for room when getting past the tiring Always on Show, but Graham had her in the clear with those 200m left to run and the gear change from there was a telling one.

Possibly also motivated by the fact that Secret Tales ($7.50) was surging down the centre of the track, Poetic Drama responded and quickly put away that threat, before going on to gun down the game Vendidit, hitting the lead coming through the 100m mark and staying on strongly to the line to beat the second placed Readily Availabull ($11), who had come through in-between Vendidit and Secret Tales over the concluding stages, by 1.50 lengths.
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Poetic Drama had kicked off her career in the care of the training partnership of Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes for whom she raced sixteen times. She showed a fair level of consistency there as well, but failed to find the ultimate reward of a race win although she did finish second on no less than six occasions while racing for the Hawkes team.

That piece of the puzzle ... the win ... fell into place immediately when Poetic Drama won first-up for Tony and Maddysen Sears.

That Maiden win came over 1400m at Eagle Farm at a midweek meeting. Two races later Poetic Drama won again when she saluted in the National Apprentices Series Class 1 Plate over 1600 under Melea Castle.

After winning two out of her first three starts for her new stable, Poetic Drama was allowed a four month break from racing and, after resuming, she showed progressive improvement in the lead-up to her third career win ... finishing fourth first-up and then a close-up second (twice) before earning her place in the winner’s enclosure again and putting that third win on the board in a BM70 Handicap over 1400 at Eagle Farm ... which seemingly was fast becoming her favourite track.

But the win at the Sunshine Coast showed that Poetic Drama was not just a one trick, one track pony.

Another good, strong win was in the bank, one which underlined her ability to make the most of the talent she has at her disposal.

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