The David Pfieffer-trained Gai's Choice got back into the winners circle on Saturday with a salute in the Benchmark 80 Nepean Handicap at Rosehill.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The four-year-old mare showed good signs as a three year old after winning a nice race at the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast. That was 15 months ago and since then she hasn't been able to crack for another win, until Saturday.
Ridden by Jay Ford, Gai's Choice jumped well from barrier five but was snagged back and settled ninth in the run, about eight lengths off race leader My Cookie Monster.
Little changed in the run until approaching the turn when top weight Delabombell who was sitting immediately in front of Gai's Choice in the run decided to make a move forward.
That decision gave Gai's Choice the perfect trail into the race. Ford used the cover until the field rounded the turn and straightened before hooking out from behind Delabombell to make the run home.
At this point there was still five lengths to make up. Empress Milly hit the lead at the 300m and held it til the 50m mark but Gai's Choice finished too strongly for her then held off a late challenge from Recorrido.
At the line the margin was a short neck to Recorrido with a further three quarters of a length to Empress Milly in third place.
“It is good to get her back and get her back in that fashion,” Pfieffer said. “It is hard enough to get mares back into form but to get her back to winning is great.
“Eleven-hundred metres is probably a little bit short for her but they went quite hard up front and she worked home quite nicely; she probably has more improvement in her.”
