The first two-year-old race of the season, the Pat O'Shea Plate at Toowoomba, went to the Easy Rocking filly Bedaub to credit trainer Michael Nolan with his fourth winner of the race.
A homebred for Dr Kim McCasker, the half-sister to Group 1 ATC Surround Stakes Hinged (Worthy Cause), clung to a desperate long neck margin over the Adelaide colt Adelad with the Jet Spur gelding Mishani Raider a half-head back in third.
“She’s a super filly,” Nolan said.
“They made her work hard. I don’t want it over again, but they pay on the line, and she did well to hang on.
“I said to Kim after her trackwork on Tuesday that I thought she could win it, then after the barrier draw, I thought she couldn’t.
“Full credit to Kim. He keeps giving me these lovely horses to train and it’s a big thrill to win pat’s race.
“She will spell now and probably sleep for a week. It will be up to Kim where she goes next. I just hope he doesn’t sell her.”
Bedaub is the third winner from as many to race out of the 12-time winning Tycoon Ruler mare Tints. She is one of five live foals from the 19th and penultimate crop of Wattle Brae Stud stalwart Easy Rocking, who died in January last year.
The Group 1 winning son of Barathea has one yearling from his 20th and final crop.
