Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray had hoped to be chasing the Flemington riches on Tuesday, but after the Melbourne Cup dream was dashed, their promising filly Costae provided a nice consolation with an impressive victory in the TAB 1400 at Ellerslie.
The Cambridge training partnership had a runner in the A$8 million staying showpiece until last Friday, when their Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) and Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Mahrajaan was vetted out of the Melbourne Cup.
Turning their focus to the domestic meeting, Costae was having her first run on turf, after two placings and a maiden victory on the Cambridge and Awapuni Synthetic tracks through the early stages of her three-year-old term.
There was plenty of faith in the daughter of Ribchester in the TAB market, backing her from $21 into $12, while she was still well-adrift of race-favourite Altari ($3.20) and Hitabell ($3.50.)
Altari showed intent early to take over the role as pacemaker, while Michael McNab found the one-one comfortably aboard Costae. The favourite held the lead to the 200m, before the filly came surging down the centre of the track and was never in doubt, holding off a game Bourbon Proof to score by three-quarters of a length.
McNab praised the filly's performance, which continued a phenomenal return to the saddle after several months off the scene for the top hoop, riding six winners from just 14 rides.
"She bought different form lines, but all you can do is run well in what you're placed in and she'd been doing that," he said.
"She travelled beautifully, it was a bit of a pedestrian speed which helped and I was comfortable where I was.
"She's stepped up to a really competitive field today and she won well."
Murray had a similar sentiment following the race, indicating Costae may now head south for next Saturday's Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), where she currently sits a $21 chance with the TAB futures market.
"We're very happy with her, she's a filly that is improving with every start," he said.
"She was a little bit weak earlier on, but she's getting stronger and stronger.
"We'll just see where she pulls up, she still holds a nomination for the Guineas, so if she pulls up well and eats up in the next couple of days, we might put her on the plane next Wednesday.
"If not, there's the Eulogy (Gr.3, 1600m) and some other races up here, so we may look at those."
Ritchie purchased Costae for $55,000 out of Seaton Park's draft at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sales, and he races her in an ownership group that includes Craig Baker, the Executive General Manager of Racing and Operations at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing.
Baker was delighted to be on-course for the victory, particularly with Costae racing in the colours of his home region.
"It's a great thrill, to win a race at Ellerslie is fantastic and in my father's colours as well, the black and white for Hawke's Bay," he said.
"We've got a group of first-time owners in the horse as well, it's a great result.
"It's always a big step-up when you come off the synthetic on to the turf, especially at Ellerslie in a good field, but she just keeps improving."
