Miss Bear Returns To Set Easter Maiden Pace

MISS Bear sped to an almost nine-length win in a fast 25.39 heat of the time-honoured Easter Maiden (450m) at Grafton on Sunday night, but trainer Karen Ulrick was even more impressed with the performance of littermate Brookers Road.

Brookers Road, a hot favourite for his heat, missed the start, found trouble, but flew home to get third behind Excellent in 25.59 but also makes next Sunday night's final.

The pair are by Bernardo and My Kinloch and they are half relations to the Ulrick's star performer Go Bears which also won at Grafton on Sunday night, his 28^th victory at his 100^th race start.

"We thought Miss Bear could win the Robert Smith Maiden at The Gardens but she had no luck in her heat," Ulrick said.

Starting $1.70 favourite, Miss Bear began well and soon led clearly, racing away in the straight to win by eight and a half lengths over She Reacts.

Brookers Road was the $1.70 favourite for his heat but after missing the start had to come from last to get third with a late surge behind Excellent from the Neil Falls kennel in 25.59.

Karen admits Brookers Road is the better of the pair.

Frank Hancock's Lady Jacqueline ran 25.58 to win the other heat, beating Yuna Herrera.

"We are very happy with them. Brookers Road needs inside and Miss Bear wants a wide draw," Ulrick added.

"Miss Bear will be our next broodbitch."

Go Bears finished strongly to win in 25.22 later in the night.

"He just never gives up," she added.

Go Bears will go back to Grafton next Sunday for that track's heat of the Jack Somerville Trophy, with the final to be run at Casino.

"Then we might head up to Queensland to try out The Q," she said.

The family has a busy week with Magical Mia, the dam of star sprinter Field Day, about to whelp to Bernardo this week.

"We have just broken in a litter from her by Jungle Deuce and couldn't be happier with them," she added.

"And, we will probably keep all the Bernardo litter. We can't thank Chris Field (owner of Field Day) enough. Without him, none of this would be possible."