Sweepstake the ticket after break

Progressive mare Sweepstake returned to the sort of form that saw her place at Group I level last season with a brilliant frontrunning performance at Whanganui on Saturday.

The Per Incanto four-yearold had promised plenty when running third to La Diosa in the 2016 Group I 1000 Guineas at Riccarton before having her season ended prematurely when finishing well back at Trentham at her next start.

A vet examination revealed a bone chip needed to be removed which put her on the easy list as trainer Mike Breslin and connections gave her an extended break. After a patient build-up, the mare made her racetrack return at Rotorua in late October.

‘‘Once they’ve had an operation like that you are never too sure just how well they can come back from it,’’ said Breslin.

‘‘She had trialled nicely before we stepped her out at Rotorua but she half-pie ran off that day when finishing near last, so I was worried she might still have an issue.

‘‘She didn’t seem to be too bad, so we pressed on and she went nicely at Awapuni last start.’’

Plagued by wide barriers at her first two starts, Sweepstake drew wide once again on Saturday which had Breslin resigned to seeing her settle well back in the early stages of the contest.

‘‘Once she drew wide again I thought we would be heading back at the start, so I told Rosie to take a sit where she could,’’ Breslin said.

‘‘She actually jumped brilliantly so Rosie took her to the lead where nobody really wanted to take a look at her. She is Group quality so we will be looking to get her a start at that level.’’