Attard has high opinion after filly puts in Express performance
SHE had little luck on her debut, but swift filly Chyna Express proved she doesn’t really need it with an impressive second up win at Cluden Park on Thursday.
The Whittington filly lived up to her name, exploding at the 200 metre mark before fending off challenges from the more experienced Vienna Cruise and Eternal Bean in a three-way photo finish.
It took a long look from the judges before handing the filly her maiden win in the TAB Long May We Play 3YO Handicap, scoring by half-a-head from her rivals.
It was a proud moment for Townsville trainer Chris Attard, with the three-year-old filly the first he purchased as a baby before breaking in and training to a maiden win.
“We just wanted her to have a settle today,” Attard said after the run. “She got stuck three deep (in her debut) and the winner last time cut her off in the straight and she had to run around. Nathan (Day) just sat up on her and looked after her. Nothing really went to plan.
“We went to the handicap because it was a smaller field and back to 1000m, we thought we would be a good chance today.”
The filly was ridden to a tee by Denicious Smith who took a sit off the pace when topweight Choir Boy attempted to put space between himself and the field.
Rather than panic, the South African jockey bided his time and hit the go button halfway down the straight to reel in his rival. While he was impressed with the run, Attard was adamant there was still plenty to come from the young filly.
“She will get better with age and we always thought that,” he said. “She just keeps growing and she is a nice filly.”
Attard’s win was the second in an all-townsville quaddie to open the day at Cluden Park with Joanna Hassett scoring a maiden win with Dawn Strike in the opener.