Sassy Enuff looms as Pat O’Shea contender
‘‘ SHE’S BEEN VERY PROFESSIONAL SINCE DAY ONE. MICHAEL NOLAN
RACING: The pathway to the 2019 Toowoomba Truck Spares Pat O’Shea Plate took another turn yesterday when Sassy Enuff loomed as a genuine contender for the twoyear-old feature.
The Pat O’Shea Plate opens Queensland’s twoyear-old racing season at Clifford Park on Saturday week.
Sassy Enuff displayed her Plate credentials with an impressive Clifford Park barrier trial win yesterday morning.
Just five runners faced the starter for the day’s sole twoyear-old heat over 875 metres to wind up official pre-season trialling at Clifford Park.
Sassy Enuff shared the lead with the Jackie Crompton-trained Funky Beat before edging clear on straightening under a conservative hold for jockey Emma Lung to score by two lengths.
Funky Beat held on solidly for second with the first pair spacing their nearest rival Magic In Me, who was a further 61⁄2 lengths back third.
Sassy Enuff’s winning time of 52.72 seconds compared with last week’s trial win of Dark Son in 51.73.
Ljung also partnered Dark Son in his trial win for trainers Tony and Maddy Sears.
Sassy Enuff is by Group Two Danenill Stakes winner Rich Enuff out of Michael Nolan’s dual Weetwood Handicap winner Miss Imagica.
Nolan — who won the inaugural Pat O’Shea Plate with Greyt Start — said Sassy Enuff was ticking all the boxes along the way to a likely Plate start.
“There is still a lot that can happen between now and race day but what you saw this morning is the way she has been handling things all along,” Nolan said.
“She’s been very professional since day one and hopefully she can carry that through to the Pat O’Shea Plate.
“We pencilled the race in for her months ago, fully aware that a lot can happen between then and now, but so far, so good.
“Like all the others she’s got to handle the pressure along the way and then on race day but that was a nice trial today without being pushed out.”
CLIFFORD PARK 2-Y-O BARRIER TRIAL
Yesterday
870 metres, course proper SASSY ENUFF (b or br f Rich Enuff-Miss Imagica) (Emma Ljung) 1;
FUNKY BEAT (br f Better Than Ready-Groovy Beat) (Zoe White) 2;
MAGIC IN ME (br of blk colt Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)-Cuban) (J. Hodge) 3.
Then followed: Kiki Coco, Fay’s Fury.
Won by 2 lens, 61⁄2 lens. Time: 52.72. Last 600m: 35.25.
Placegetters trained by Michael Nolan, Jackie Crompton, Garry Schwenke.