Warrior fights to hand Thexton unlikely win
A shaking Maryann Thexton kept the Magic Millions run going for Gold Coast trainers in the $250,000 David Jones Magic Millions Sprint 1000m on Saturday, January 9.
Thexton delivered one of the upsets of the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival with Warrior Girl’s late victory at her home track, guided by jockey Kelly Purdy.
“I thought it was such a big step up,” Thexton said.
“We certainly knew she could gallop. That’s why I said to the owners if we get the run we’d take it, but we totally respected the field. We knew they were all good gallopers too.
“But, boy, the one thing I did notice after we had stopped screaming was the deathly silence in the stand. Nobody expected it.
“I won the (Magic Millions) Cup a couple of years ago and that was huge. But I think this might be bigger for this little filly.”
It was a battle of two over the last 100 metres. Fab Fevola, the boom three-year-old who was well-backed in the race to take it up to his more experienced opposition, and the little known Warrior Girl who boomed down the centre of the track to steal the show at $71 on the tote.
Thexton was open in her praise for stable jockey Purdy, who timed the run to perfection and jumped off the three-year-old with a broad smile.
“I must give great credit to Kelly Purdy. She’s now had 10 rides and seven wins for the stable. She rides these horses everyday and knows them inside out.
“We made the decision to leave her on two horses today, because she knows what they can do and when to push their buttons. I can’t wait to congratulate Kelly.”
Speaking volumes for Purdy’s ride was the A-list of jockeys she entered the barriers alongside. Internationally acclaimed jockeys such as Chris Munce, Glen Boss and Larry Cassidy were humbled by the little known hoop.
Prior to passing the post for the three-year-old filly’s second win in three starts, she had returned a career total of $6500 in prizemoney. Compare this to her opposition, such as Sir Monashee who had earned connections $468, 750, and every other runner who had at least eclipsed $80,000 in prizemoney.
Warrior Girl, by Ombra Della Sera out of Abba Dabba, came with the “princely” purchase price of $6000 at the 2008 Magic Millions January sale. The only horse in the field to be purchased for under $10,000 is an understated astute buy.
A representative for owners, Jamaica Run Thoroughbred Syndicate, was understandably overjoyed with the result.
“I knew the horse had some ability. He just needed to overcome the barrier with some luck,” the spokesperson said.
Purdy said Warrior Girl had a strong ability to churn out competitive sectionals, and after looking at the form no other runner was posting similar times.
While the sectional times may be worth noting spare a thought for those who are left to look after the inexperienced filly on a daily basis.
“She’s a difficult filly, so she’ll go to the paddock on a positive note and come back for the Winter Carnival. She’s also had more trials than she’s had races,” Thexton said.
“Once she’s under saddle she’s great. She’s hard to get onto the track and she’s hard to get in the barrier. She didn’t want to come out of the stalls today, so we had to push her out backwards.
“She’s really temperamental but we work with her, not against, because we know how good she is.”
No doubt this has been made all worthwhile for Thexton and connections of Warrior Girl.
Fellow Gold Coast trainer Bryan Guy congratulated Thexton and exclaimed “we got the quinella” showing the evident camaraderie that is rarely seen in public.
His runner Fab Fevola had taken the fight to the top-notch field, picking up the pace from the jump and was gapping all-comers in the straight.
It looked like being a career defining win, and a story in itself for the promising three-year-old, only to see a flying Warrior Girl steal a remarkable victory for connections.
Fab Fevola finished second a half length behind.
Backstabber, ridden by visiting jockey Corey Brown for Coffs Harbour’s Brett Dodson, finished in a dead-heat third with Al’s Best Mate for jockey Luke Nolen and trainer Peter Moody.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Ross Dowd – January 9 |
