Travelling Light bags prize

Class filly Travelling Light displayed a brilliant turn of foot to down her male rivals in the $225,000 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham yesterday.

The El Roca three-year-old had gone close to Group One glory when finishing third in the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, after being thrust into the unfamiliar role of pacemaker that day.

Cambridge trainer Ben Foote and co-owner Col MacRury felt their charge was disadvantaged that day by not being able to show her dazzling acceleration, so a plan was hatched to trail in behind yesterday.

Rider Sam Collett, who had to make the difficult decision to give up the mount of race rival Riodini, followed the blueprint to perfection, as she sat back on the fence on a muddling speed, before tracking up behind race favourite Harlech approaching the home bend.

Harlech took over with 300m to run and looked to be travelling comfortably, but Collett was biding her time on her mount, who was idling along behind Harlech, and ready to pounce. Collett pushed the go button and the response was immediate as Travelling Light dashed to the front before easing to a comfortable one-length victory over a game Harlech, with Riodini battling resolutely out wide for third.

The victory was the first for Foote at G1 level and the former top jumps jockey was trying to take it all in as he was swamped by well-wishers in the Trentham birdcage.

‘‘It was a great ride by Sam as it was what we had talked about doing,’’ Foote said.

‘‘When she ended up there [back on the fence] I was pretty happy.

‘‘I was confident she could run him [Harlech] down but I was surprised at how slow they had gone early on.’’

It was the second G1 prize for Collett, who took out the 2019 edition of the Auckland Cup (3200m) on Glory Days, and she was glowing in her praise for Travelling Light, who she has ridden in four of her five career victories.

‘‘It couldn’t have gone any better than if I had asked,’’ she said.

‘‘I really wanted to be the one doing the chasing and it’s full credit to Ben as she looks absolutely amazing and she is something special.

‘‘When I got out, she gave me about four strides before she got herself organised, but then she locks in and she does the rest herself. She’s just got amazing tenacity and is a riders’ dream. She never overtaxes herself and she feels as though she has got an endless gas tank.’’ Bred by MacRury and his father Ian, who shares in the ownership of the filly with his son, Travelling Light is the first G1 winner for her sire El Roca, who stands at Westbury Stud. El Roca is well represented at the upcoming National Yearling Sale, where a total of 24 will go under the hammer.

‘‘ . . . she feels as though she has got an endless gas tank.’’ Rider Sam Collett