The margin was narrow and the time slow but Vis A Tergo’s win at Eagle Farm on Wednesday has earned her a tilt at better quality races this campaign.
Vis A Tergo only had a short half-head to spare from stablemate Altai Warrior in the Hidden Dragon @ Lyndhurst Handicap (1200m) as a $1.70 favourite.
Although the mare’s winning time was more than three seconds outside the track record trainer Matthew Dunn is keen to test her against stronger company in the next few weeks.
“She ran better than I expected to win first-up here a couple of weeks ago and you’d expect her to be a bit flat today,” he said.
“But she got the job done and I think she’s better when her races are spaced.”
Dunn will concentrate on keeping Vis A Tergo on the fresh side when she has her next start which is likely to be in a fillies and mares quality at Doomben next month.
Winning jockey Glen Colless praised the mare’s courage.
“Even though she only scrambled in and didn’t win by much, she gave me everything she had,” he said.
“She’s as tough as nails and really wants to win.”
Earlier, trainer Lawrie Mayfield-Smith credited blinkers for the sharp turnaround in form by Breannon ($26) in the Winning Edge Presentations Handicap (1500m).
“She was all over the shop last start so I put a set of blinkers on and she’s improved lengths,” Mayfield-Smith said.
“It doesn’t come as a surprise to me because she finished off strongly at her last run and the best part of her race today was the last 50 metres.”
Breannon surged home to overhaul the erratic Amazing Mr Hughes ($4.20) to win by a half neck.
Jockey Larry Cassidy said Amazing Mr Hughes cost himself victory by hanging out badly towards the outside fence in the straight.
