Talented juvenile Folk Dress showed her potential at Matamata on Wednesday when taking out the Matley Financial Services 1200.
The two-year-old filly settled in behind
the speed under jockey Opie Bosson before improving at the turn and distancing
her rivals in the straight to win by 1-1/2 lengths.
It was the first win for the Coolmore-owned filly who has been marked as a $14 fifth favourite for the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) by TAB bookmakers.
"It was a lovely ride, as you come to expect from him (Bosson)," Richards said. "That's why he is the best in the business and he gave her every chance. I thought she quickened up nicely and she's going the right way."
Richards is taking a bit of confidence out of the race, with last year's winner, Handsome Rebel, going on to finish fourth in the Sires' Produce.
"We won the race last year with a horse called Handsome Rebel who came out and ran fourth in the Sires' and put in a really good performance," Richards said.
"There is no rush with her. She's a good filly to have in work for Coolmore and they let us pick and choose where we want to go."
Bosson was pleased with the win and said Wednesday's run was another learning experience for the daughter of Pierro.
"She's always been a top quality filly and her trial was really good," Bosson said.
"We like to teach them something and get her breathing properly and she definitely finished it off nicely."
Meanwhile, Bosson will cross the Tasman this weekend to ride Probabeel in the Gr.3 Harrolds Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.
Richards said the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winner has travelled over well this week and a start in the Gr.1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) is reliant on a solid performance this weekend.
"She arrived there (Sydney) on Monday night," Richards said. "She travelled over really well. She is going to do a bit of work on Thursday and that will top her off nicely for Saturday.
"Her trial last week has kept her up to the mark. She's a good doing filly by Savabeel, they are good tough fillies, and I don't think the travel will be any problem.
"We are looking forward to Saturday. It would have been nice to draw a gate (drawn 14), but we are going to be back a little bit and hitting the line anyway.
"She has got a nomination for the Slipper, so we will just play it by ear, we just want to get through Saturday and then we'll make that decision with Brendan and Jo (Lindsay, owners)." – NZ Racing Desk
