Darley's three-year-old filly Genteel swiftly dispatched the field in the $100,000 Schweppes Tonic 1000 (1000m) at Flemington on Tuesday stepping up from a win at Gosford and adding to an already tidy record.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Peter Snowden said he had learnt a lot about Genteel and elected to keep her to the shorter sprinting distances with her Gosford win on October 21st over 1100m and today's win over 1000m backing up Snowden's opinion.
Kerrin McEvoy kept Genteel behind the leaders as they came down the middle of the course. The moment he let the filly go she went past with ease to then sprint away showing an excellent turn of foot to win with 2 1/4L in hand.
Magnier and Vlad Duric steadily made ground for second with Kolonga and Dwayne Dunn third, the margin a half-length. The Travelling Man was fourth.
The time was 56.57 on the Good 3 track with the final 600m in a very smart 32.76. Genteel paid $3.90.
“It was an impressive win and she is a nice filly,” said Snowden.
“She is very genuine, lightly raced and has been showing good ability. I've learnt a bit about her from last preparation and I think 1000 – 1100m is her right go.
“When you find a turn of foot like that in a 1000m race you're going to be pretty quick and she had the lovely run today.
“Kerrin rode her positively, found cover, waited for as long as he could and when he pressed the button she found three (lengths) and that was enough to get her home and win easily.
“It was a great result, good for the team, we've broken the ice and hopefully we can go on from here.
“We thought about it for a couple of weeks whether to bring her down or not but she is very lightly raced and from beating pretty moderate company (at Gosford) to come here on Cup day was a bit of an ask but after looking at the field the blokes behind me suggested she was in the race up to her ears,” he said.
“She got a nice trail just in behind them and it was a good move by the team to bring her down,” said McEvoy.
“She put up nice figures last time at Gosford winning and she just kept improving and she is sharp little filly with a good burst.
“I was able to get into a nice spot and she regained her composure (after a bump) and travelled nice and I felt like the winner at the 400m and she kicked away," he said.
Genteel is by Exceed And Excel out of the Marju mare Only She Can. This was her third win from six starts and with a third placing she had earned stakes of $95,860.
