Regular rider Cameron Lammas had recommended the addition of blinkers for the Darci Brahma filly after she finished a lacklustre sixth in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m) at her previous start.
This time there was no doubting her willingness to compete hard at the business
end of the contest as she ran down race favourite Contessa Vanessa in the
concluding stages of a truly run event."Last start she had 2000 metres, blinkered up, stamped all over her," said Lammas.
"She had a lovely run today and just kept finding. She has had a bit of a setback with a bruised heel, so they've done an awesome job with her."
Co-trainer Chris Gibbs admitted a heavy shower that struck Ellerslie twenty minutes prior to the race had also been a contributing factor in the filly's success.
"Cameron has always had a huge opinion of her as he has ridden her a few times now," he said.
"She loved the ground, so I think the rain certainly helped.
"There's always been the class there, but we did have a tiny concern whether she was ready for the race, but the way she ran it out she was impressive."
Gibbs also indicated further staying tests were on the programme for the filly who was a $28,000 purchase for Logan from the Seaton Park draft at the Select session of the 2016 National Yearling Sale.
"She's in the Derby and the Oaks so we will take one of those paths," he said.
"As you know Donna and Dean have always been huge believers of the fillies in the Derby. I don't think anything has really stamped itself for the Derby yet and she has certainly shown today she wants more ground.
"She likes Ellerslie so we might be back."
The prolonged shower that struck Ellerslie prior to the race saw a track downgrade from a Good 3 to a Dead 6 following the race with most jockeys indicating that the footing had definitely been affected by the downpour. – NZ Racing Desk
