Matthew Smith has done a great job placing talented Star Witness mare Frilled and after notching four successive wins at Nowra, Kembla and Moonee Valley she was sent out a hot favourite for the Benchmark 78 event over 955m at Moonee Valley on Friday night and duly sizzled around the course with Damien Oliver on board.
Frilled gave it her all as she always does and kicked on to win by a head in a thrilling finish, stopping the clock at a slick 54.65 seconds which was just 100th of a second outside the lead in this year’s 55 second challenge.
“She makes her own luck and is very quick, just a lovely mare,” said Matthew Smith.
“Damien rated her perfectly in front and she got the job done.”
Frilled was retained to race by her breeders and is the first winner for stakes-placed Sebring mare Frill Seeking, a daughter of Group III winner Vietnam, who was second in a Group I Queensland Oaks.
Frill Seeking has been a regular visitor to the Widden sires and has an unnamed two year-old filly by Zousain and has foaled this spring producing a filly by Anders.
