Expect emotions to overflow if the Trevor Hardy-trained mare Fair Game can win tomorrow’s $20,000 Akubra Hats Kempsey Cup (1450m).

Hardy, the amiable Coffs Harbour-based horseman, is still struggling to overcome the sudden death of his beloved wife, Trish, 65, late last month.

“If she (Fair Game) could win, I’ll dedicate the win to Trish. It would be our first big win since she died,” Hardy said. “Trish absolutely lover her racing, loved the horses and it’s tough without her being here.

“I’m trying to push on but it’s taking me a long time to get over it (Trish’s death). I know there isn’t a lot we can do but her death was just so sudden, that’s the really hard part.

“She said goodbye to go down to the club with a friend - 15 minutes later she was dead.  “I sometimes still walk around the house and say something, yell out to her, then realise she’s not there.

“I know she’d want me to keep going. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

Trish Hardy was also like a second mother to Hardy’s champion apprentices Zac Purton, Glen Colless and several Hong Kong apprentices who spent time with the Hardy’s in recent years.

Fair Game finished a narrow second to the Neil Godbolt-trained So The Cat Said in last year‘s cup.

The five-year-old mare is part-owned by Dorrigo-based businessmen Graham Fitzgerald and Greg Bailey.

“I’ve trained for Graham over 25 years. He and his wife were good mates with Trish, ” Hardy said. “I think Fair Game is going as good as last year. So The Cat Said got her in the last stride last year.

“She’s a mare that doesn’t carry big weights but she’s drawn well and got Robbo (Allan Robinson) on board which is a plus.”

Due to Fair Game’s penchant for kicking out, her stall is lined with rubber from the floor to roof as is her float and she only travels to meetings on raceday.

“She likes to kick out and carry on but on the track though she works really well and she’s a real trier,” Hardy said. “She deserves to break through with a win.”

Fair Game has been placed at her past five starts.

Neil Godbolt, who will saddle up So The Cat Said (Robert Thompson) and Mafia Don (Peter Graham).

“So The Cat Said missed a start at Port Macquarie three weeks back when the meeting was washed out and the aim was always to go into the Kempsey Cup second up the same as last year,” Godbolt said. “The horse is well in himself and he’ll run a nice race but missing that run is a concern.

“It’s the first decent weight (53kg) Mafia Don has had in two years. He’ll be competitive.

“Barriers are a big plus at the 1400 metres. I think Fair Game and Full On Amy, who has come through the grades well, are the hardest to beat.”

By Tony White