Promising four year old mare GIN ‘N’ BITTERS made it three wins on the trot when she resumed with an impressive first up victory at the Sunshine Coast last Wednesday.

The hulking SEBRING mare had been off the scene since putting back to back wins together in November 2019 and looked vulnerable first up over the 1000m despite going to the post as an easing favourite.

With regular jockey Robbie Fradd again in the saddle , the mare was forced to race four abreast for the first part of the race ,  however Fradd was able to get enough out of her late to hold off the fast finishing I AM VENUS.

Trainer Billy Healey was concerned with the wide draw leading into the race and felt she would be a sitting shot for the swoopers late .

That prediction looked like coming to fruition at the 300m mark as GIN ‘N’ BITTERS struggled to shrug off  early leader TRUE BLUE TANGO , however  the mare found her customary second wind to surge to the post with a length to spare over her rivals.

GIN ‘N’ BITTERS was a high priced yearling at the 2017 Inglis Easter Yearling , knocked down for $260,000 to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Unfortunately for the previous ownership group she was plagued by injuries which restricted her ability to get to the races and a bleeding attack in July 2019 was the final straw.

Purchased through Inglis Online by Lang Brothers Racing not long after as a breeding prospect , even in their wildest dreams could they envisage her being unbeaten in her first three starts.

“I remember Billy ringing us when she arrived at his stables saying she was dull in the coat and he didn’t think much of her ” mused part owner Matt Lang.

“At that stage we were tossing up whether to even try her as a racing prospect so based on that initial assessment we booked her into Darley stallion IMPENDING ‘.

“A few weeks passed and Billy’s updates started to get a little bit more upbeat ” laughed Lang.

“She put in a stellar piece of work a few days prior to her debut run at the Sunshine Coast which gave us an inkling of what was under the bonnet”.

“Then of course she came out and won so impressively on debut and then backed it up again two weeks later” said Lang.

“It was then we decided to ease off over Summer and give her a good break, conscious of course she had had a bleeding attack , but also due to the heat which is typical of Queensland at that time of year.”

“I certainly feel some empathy for the original ownership group ” said Lang.

“But I understand as well that when you are paying top rates for a horse to be trained in the city and you have as many set backs as she did, you just can’t afford to keep throwing good money after bad”.

“We have been in very similar positions with horses that just haven’t paid their way and sometimes you just need to cut the chord” said Lang.

GIN’N’BITTERS is certainly getting a mini fan club , no doubt due to her name and stunning looks , a factor which has led to some potential partnership opportunities.

“We have been speaking to a couple of gin labels around potentially doing some marketing ” said Lang.

“Gin is really going through a resurgence at the moment and given her profile it makes sense to explore any opportunities that may be available” .

“Obviously everything is up in the air at the moment with Covid-19 , but hopefully when crowds are allowed back on course, they may all be drinking GIN ‘N’BITTERS following another victory” concluded Lang.

GIN’N’BITTERS will look to progress to open company at her next start with a couple of options on the horizon at Doomben or Eagle Farm.