“It was a big thrill to win, a bonus, because I didn’t think she would race after all her problems,” syndicate head owner of the Peter Ball-trained galloper Mark Winkler said.

His introduction to racing has been full of turmoil because the two fillies he bought to give him and his family a hobby with breeding an ultimate ambition, both have had life-threatening injuries.

They are Her Lyin’ Eyes, which has been retired after suffering tendon problems following a win at Taree in November last year and Broadway Gossip.

Her Lyin’ Eyes has gone to the breeding barn and only recently was sent to Olympus to become a mum whereas Broadway Gossip, in leading all the way for the win at Taree on September 11, has a racing future before her.

“We had enough problems with Her Lyin’ Eyes but the injuries have been 10 times worse with Broadway Gossip,” he said.

Winkler bought both fillies at the same time, paying $3300 for Broadway Gossip but the latter is lucky to be racing and could have died.

“I only had her for a year when her back legs caught in a wire fence and they were cut to pieces,” Winkler said.

Following vet help, for the next three months bandages were applied to the wounds and plenty of love and care was administered.

“We looked after her but deep down we thought she wouldn’t race, hoping she could be saved for breeding purposes,” Winkler said.

“Then she started to come right and I thought I would give her to Peter (Gladstone trainer Peter Ball) to give her some work.

“Then on February 2 at Kempsey she won a barrier trial by 10 lengths to suggest she had plenty of ability.

“Peter all along thought she could be good.”

But about a week later she was found to have smashed a splint bone, which again jeopardised her racing career.

Winkler took the tough decision, seeing that she was so promising, to have her operated on in the hope of rectifying the problem. She was operated on at Coffs Harbour, the procedure and hospitalisation costing $4000.