Top filly versatile, brave in win
THE sky is still the limit for untapped Wingatui filly The Precious One who scored a brilliant hometrack victory yesterday.
The Claire Andertontrained 3yrold charged home to win her third start and maintain her unbeaten record.
Anyone who watched the blueblood daughter of The Jewel win would realise how very good she is but exactly how much brilliance The Precious One has is still unknown.
She served up another beatup job on a field of inferior horses yesterday meaning she is yet to be fully tested in her three wins.
Assessing the quality of the filly is a difficult task even for Chris Johnson who has ridden hundreds of good 3yrolds in his career.
‘‘It is hard to tell, but I like the way she relaxed today. That will do her good for the future when she gets over more ground,’’ he said.
‘‘She is a very nice horse.’’ The Precious One showed versatility and bravery in her 1200m victory yesterday.
She got further back in the running than in her previous wins and showed no hesitation in pushing through the closest of gaps to find clear running.
‘‘She got off the pace a bit today, but she was very relaxed and showed her class in the straight,’’ Johnson said.
‘‘She took the tight gaps and then I had to change ground but she sprinted quick.’’
Her trainer, Claire Anderton, felt a sense of both elation and relief following her filly’s victory in her first start after a joint injury.
‘‘It was very exciting but it was a bit of a relief, too,’’ she said.
Whether there is another South Island horse that could be up to The Precious One’s immense talent could be discovered when she tackles a listed 1600m event at Riccarton early next month.
That plan is dependent on how The Precious One recovers from yesterday’s win and if she shows any signs of her previous injury.
The signs straight after the win were that the filly had taken little out of herself with her dynamic performance.
‘‘We will get her home and make sure everything is all right.
‘‘I don’t see why it wouldn’t’ be,’’ Anderton said.
‘‘All going well we will look at going to Christchurch.’’
Edward gained a deserved win in a maiden on yesterday’s thoroughbred programme to give Anderton a training double.
The 6yrold had placed in 14 of his 29 starts leading into yesterday’s race.