Brilliant young reinsman Morgan Woodley seized the opportunity and made the most of a chance drive behind Another One For Me to guide the eight-year-old and only mare in the event to a stylish victory in the $35,000 Find Thirty Every Day Lord Mayor’s Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Henley Brook trainer Chelsey Harding engaged the 23-year-old Woodley to handle Another One For Me when the mare’s regular reinsman Mark Reed opted to drive David Hercules in the group 3 event he had won three times before --- with Skippers Trick, Rich And Spoilt and Tricky Vic.

David Hercules was plunged from 5/4 to 7/4 on, while Another One For Me, despite the distinct advantage of the No. 1 barrier, was a 14/1 shot who returned tote odds of 52/1.

Woodley drove a perfect race and brought Another One For Me home with a well-timed burst to win by almost a length from Aussie Reactor (4/1), with superstar millionaire pacer Lombo Pocket Watch (7/2) finishing a close third. David Hercules raced wide in the early stages and then enjoyed a good sit, one-out and one-back, before wilting to seventh.

The surprise win gave Woodley his third victory in the Lord Mayor’s Cup after successes with Taihape Tickler in 2006 and Mysta Magical Mach in 2009.

Woodley, driving Another One For Me for the first time, opted out of the early battle for the lead and the mare settled down in fifth position, three back on the pegs. Newcomer Lively Highlander charged to the front after 150m before Gary Hall jun. urged Aussie Reactor into the lead after 500m.

Lombo Pocket Watch got to the breeze after 900m and when Has The Answers made a fast move, out wide, down the back straight in the final circuit to move into third place with 350m to travel Another One For Me was under lock and key in sixth place.

Woodley then cleverly angled Another One For Me off the pegs and she finished powerfully, three wide, to hit the front 30m from the post. The final 800m was covered in 57sec. and Another One For Me rated 1.57.5 over the 2506m journey to boost her record to 83 starts for 12 wins and 23 placings for stakes of $128,930.

Another One For Me, bred in New Zealand by Graham Bond, won three times in New Zealand before Bond recommended her to Harding early in 2009.

“I convinced Chelsey one day when I was sitting in Reedy’s smoko room to come over and have a look at Another One For Me running third to Im Themightyquinn in New Zealand,” Bond said. “When they saw that run they sat up and took notice.

“I had leased the mare to my next door neighbour, who won two races with her. The lease was about to run out and I wanted to bring her over to Western Australia. I recognised Chelsey’s potential as a trainer and wanted someone who would treat my horses nicely and look after them and love them, rather than knocking them around.”

So Chelsey, her husband Greg, her brother Trent Cooper and close friend Ben Dyer agreed to take a 50-50 lease of the mare. Another One For Me won seven races for the new connections before becoming sore in July 2010. After the mare had spent 12 months in the paddock Bond renewed the lease on a more favourable 60-40 basis because the lessee owners had shared the expense of looking after the mare during her recuperation.

During her time away from the racetrack Another One For Me got into foal to American stallion Dawn Ofa New Day. But she failed to produce, losing the foal after about only six weeks.

So a comeback racing campaign was put into action and Another One For Me has had nine starts this time in for two wins. This will be her final season on the racetrack before going to the breeding barn.

Her WA record stands at 44 starts for nine wins, 12 placings and stakes of $97,481. Friday night’s victory gave Chelsey Harding her first victory as a trainer in a Cup event. She prepared Aussie Attack when he finished second to Subabrew in the 2007 Easter Cup at Gloucester Park.

Chelsey and Greg Harding became friends with Dyer when they were students at the University of WA. Greg Harding played football for Claremont as well as for the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles. He is now in his second year as coach of the Swan Districts league side.

Dyer, who shared the ownership of The Smooth Operator with the Hardings and Cooper, is the new coach of the Claremont colts side after working as the head coach of the Brisbane Lions academy last year.

“I hadn’t driven her before tonight and didn’t really know what to expect,” said an excited Woodley after Friday night’s Cup. “But Chelsey and Trent were confident that she would run a good race. Probably on paper I thought she was a good place chance if things fell in her favour.

“Being three back on the pegs and running home in 57sec. and getting over the top of them is a terrific performance. And full credit to Chelsey for a great training performance.”

Hall said he was surprised that Another One For Me had beaten Aussie Reactor, declaring that he thought he had the race won when Aussie Reactor was holding Lombo Pocket Watch at bay throughout the final lap.

“Then I saw the pink colours coming and I thought it was Has The Answers,” Hall said. “He’s the only horse who is going to beat me, I thought, especially if he had had a soft run on the pegs. Then I took another look and it wasn’t the pink of Has The Answers. It was the pink of Another One For Me. I couldn’t believe it.”

Courtesy of Ken Casellas.

Note: Another One For Me is by Armbro Operative.