Darley expected their two fillies to run well in the Edmen Community Staffing Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday and the stable was right with Detours and Aerobatics leaving the rest of the small field to it with 300m to run.
Big Bonanza and Jim Cassidy led the field out on the sodden Heavy 9 track at a good clip and the two fillies Detours with Hugh Bowman, and Aerobatics (56kg) with Corey Brown, slotted in behind in second and third.
Cassidy tried to keep the pressure on entering the main straight but first Detours and Bowman slipped up outside with ease, and secondly Aerobatics and Brown followed and levelled at the 300m.
From there they went away for their private battle to the line with the two leading riders putting their skill to work on the well-bred fillies. Aerobatics took a slender lead but Detours was determined under Bowman's riding.
There is a suspicion that Aerobatics (Exceed And Excel) finds 1100m a fraction easier and with the heavy conditions making any distance a test she could not maintain the challenge over the final 50m with Detours easing in front to win by 3/4L.
Revolt and Rod Quinn came home under 57kg using the middle of the track for third, the margin 2L. The time was 1.12.89 with the final 600m in 36.08. Detours paid $2.20 as NSW TAB favourite.
“She has not won but she needs racing and with a bigger field and more speed she would be better suited. She probably got there too soon today,” said Brad Widdup, Warwick Farm foreman for Peter Snowden on Aerobatics.
“The winner is honest and I just said to Hugh to hold on as long as you can as she not really sprint and she just keeps grinding. Hughie held her together and the other filly came at her and she had enough kick so it was a good win,” he said.
“It surprised me how quick he (Brown) came at me as I quickened up approaching the 300m and he put a long neck on me. But I did not think I was in trouble as I had not asked my filly for her full effort and when I did ask her it was a good performance,” said Bowman.
Bowman said that the track was a genuine heavy track.
“You could not expect anything else. As long as we do not get any rain during the day I think it will hold together well,' he said.
Rosehill received 58mm of rain to Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, Merlin Mustang backed up from a third place last Saturday over 1500m at Rosehill to make the trip again from Michael Murphy's Gundagai stables to put on a tough win in the Willis Australia Handicap (1800m).
The win was ably assisted by a well judged ride by Brenton Avdulla who took the initiative going to the lead on Merlin Mustang (55.5kg) and not relinquishing it despite a challenge from On Every Level (53kg) and Tommy Berry over the final stages.
Merlin Mustang held on by a long head with Iron Lace (55.5kg) and Glyn Schofield in third 4 1/2L away. The time was 1.54.44 and the final 600m in 37.53. Merlin Mustang paid $5.80 on NSW TAB.
“He is on the improve and he is a very tough horse. Brenton has being riding him very well and he rode him a treat there,” said Murphy.
“We have some plans for him and this was another step. We will have a look for another race in a couple of weeks,” he said.
“Since I rode him at Kembla I thought he was a progressive sort who might be suited to something like the Tulloch Stakes or even the Derby, but everything might come a little too soon for him,” said Avdulla.
