Geeson says Sugarkane has 'X-Factor'

By Duane Ranger

Two wins in five days and Gail Geeson is starting to think that 2-year-old filly, Sugarkane, could have a touch of the X-factor that her trainer and driver have been gifted.

Geeson co-owns and co-bred Sugarkane with her Sleepy Hollow-based training husband and harness racing legend, Vic Frost. The talented brown filly is driven by Kylie Rasmussen, whom Geeson termed the best driver in Queensland, if not Australia.

“She’s going to get every chance in the 2yo QBRED Fillies Final with Vic and Kylie on her side. They are both very astute judges of a horse. That’s her main goal now after what she did last week,” Geeson said.

That Group One $100,000 Final will be staged at Albion park on July 20.

Sugarkane has raced three times in 12 days this month. After finishing seventh in her debut run on May 7, the the brown daughter of Hurrikane Kingcole and Likeness (by Westburn Grant) then finished second a week later, before backing up with two nice victories on May 21 and 25 (last Tuesday and Saturday).

All four of her races have been at Albion Park.

"What a thrill it was last week. I was so proud to see her not only win once but twice in a few days, wow! She is a real sweetheart. It was a great effort. She recorded a 27.8 first quarter and then came home in 27.7," Geeson said.

"Hurrikane Kingcole is proving to be an excellent sire and the Westburn Grant cross is just amazing. They are such, wonderful, quiet horses that you can do anything with.

"We also have Frost En Ice (Hurrikane Kingcole - Frostiness (by Westburn Grant). She's won two of her five races and to be honest they are the best 2-year-olds we have had. Sugarkane as more speed and the other one more stamina. They are both very sensible horses."

She said she put the success down to hard work by all involved.

"Everyone has done such a good job with these two and all the hard work is starting to pay off. When you have the best trainer and driver on your side it's hard for good horses to fail," Geeson said.

She then went into detail as to why she believed both Frost and Rasmussen possessed the 'X-factor'.

“Their attention to detail. They leave no stone unturned. I’ve never seen a better driver than Kylie in Queensland, if not Australia for that matter. She was born into the industry and it’s all she knows. That’s why Natalie (sister) is doing well in New Zealand. They are absolute naturals in the sulky," Geeson said.

“And everyone knows what Vic has achieved. I’ve trained 91 winners and I never stop learning from him. He is a master trainer, and I'm not just saying that because we are a couple. Everyone is aware of his talents."

She said her husband could read a horse inside and out and never let it do what it wasn’t capable of.

“He knows what a horse take, and never asks them to do what they can’t. He develops them at their own pace. That seems to bring the best out of them. Vic is especially good with young ones and we both realise that’s where the future and stake money is," she said.

“We are having a ball with our youngsters at the moment. I am living the dream. We have 12 in work and I travel up and down the M1 three times a week, and people think I’m crazy.

“But horses are in my blood and always have been. I can’t wait for the Winter Carnival,” she said.