Jockey Damian Browne joked about returning his winning fee after Gold Coast filly Lady Colours made a one-act affair of the opening event on a rain-sodden Doomben on Saturday.
Lady Colours ($2.10 fav) led all the way to score a commanding 2-3/4 length win over Ain’t She Sweet ($5) in the www.brc.com.au Handicap (1200m).
Sierra Rapid ($17) filled the minor placing a further three lengths away.
“She travelled easily and was never in doubt,” Browne told winning trainer Bruce Hill.
“I feel like giving back some of my riding fee but Luke Nolen keeps taking his so I’m not giving mine back.”
Browne was referring to Melbourne rider Luke Nolen who maintained his great association with champion mare Black Caviar in Friday night’s Group Two Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley.
The tongue-in-cheek remark was laughed off by Hill who has high hopes for the daughter of Red Dazzler for the Brisbane winter carnival.
“She’s a pretty tough filly and is thriving on racing,” Hill said.
“She may have to go for a spell soon or we can keep chasing the QTIS prizemoney.”
Hill has no doubt Lady Colours can make a successful step up in distance next campaign when she returns for the winter races.
“I’m not sure what we’ll aim her for just yet but she’ll easily get 1400 metres and 1600 metres isn’t beyond her,” Hill said.
“She relaxes so well and has got enough speed to put herself in her races.
“She’s the complete racehorse.”
While Hill was unwilling to be pinned down on a winter target, he conceded the Group Two BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm in May appealed.
“Maybe the Sires, I’m not sure yet,” he said.
“But if she ran in that and went well enough the (Group One) T J Smith would be a logical race.”
Lady Colours was a $90,000 buy at the Magic Millions sales.
“I liked her as soon as I spotted her at the sales and thought she was a real good filly,” Hill said.
Lady Colours’ victory took her record to three wins from six starts and boosted her prizemoney to $137,200.
Lady Colours had no luck when she finished 10th to Driefontein in the Magic Millions Classic (1200m) on her home track on January 14.
“She got smashed in the Magic Millions,” he said.
“She missed the kick slightly and got hammered from the inside and then from the outside.”
AAP TURF
