Talented three-year-old Media Sensation furthered her preparation for a tilt at the Group I Gavelhouse New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton next month when she downed her age-group rivals over 1400m at Rotorua on Saturday.
The Peter and Dawn Williams prepared filly
had been unbeaten in two starts as a two-year-old but an interrupted
preparation saw her colours lowered for the first time when she opened her new
campaign at Tauranga earlier in the month.
The defeat had cast some doubt on her Riccarton aspirations however confidence was restored on the weekend after the filly came from well back in the field to claim race favourite Bocce in the shadows of the finishing post.
The performance gave Peter Williams cause for confidence in her chances of getting to the 1000 Guineas target.
"She was a bit fresh at Tauranga but her work had been very good this week," he said.
"We want to get her to a mile if we can, so that's why we rode her back.
"At this stage we're still a chance of the 1000 Guineas if we decide to go."
Williams had taken confidence from comments made by rider Michael Coleman after the filly's Tauranga effort that he was still on the right path with her.
"Michael was happy with her run at Tauranga," he said.
"He just said she was a victim of circumstances.
"I chose to come here to give her a go left handed as we never made it to Hastings the other day.
"She had one trial but we came here to see how she handled it."
Coleman was pleased with the effort of his mount after Media Sensation had been slow to find her feet at the start.
"We were just drawn awkwardly and there was always going to be speed on," he said.
"She jumped better but didn't really hit the ground running so the draw took things out of my hands and we had to go back.
"She hit the line hard and showed she has a bit of versatility. Getting back is going to help her see out the mile down there (Riccarton).
The victory saw TAB bookmakers tighten Media Sensation from $14 in to $8 in their Fixed Odds market for the 1000 Guineas that will be run at Riccarton on November 17.
A $425,000 yearling purchase at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sales, the daughter of I Am Invincible is raced by Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer of Barneswood Farm. – NZ Racing Desk.
