Jockey Stephen Baster was in an unfamiliar role acting as stable foreman when the Dale Sutton-trained Ravenous Lass broke through for a well deserved win at Flemington.
Baster had ridden Ravenous Lass at her last three starts but stood aside to allow three kilo claiming apprentice Jake Duffy to enjoy the spoils of success on the four-year-old in Monday’s Flemington 1840-2012 Handicap (1000m).
Sutton was travelling horses to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions Yearling Sales and missed the win but Baster was happy to step in as stable spokesman to answer questions about the mare.
“We were looking for fillies and mares races for her and could only find this restricted race,” Baster said.
He said Ravenous Lass appreciated the five kilogram weight drop to 51kg after her last start second at Flemington when beaten in a photo finish by Delegance.
“She was very good last time when I rode her and I thought with the three kilo claim it would make her very hard to beat and it worked out well,” Baster said.
“She is just so tough. She tries so hard and won’t let them pass her.”
Ravenous Lass led all the way to win by three-quarters of a length from Star Of Giselle, who ran on well without looking a threat to the winner, and Rorke’s Gift.
A daughter of Stratum, Ravenous Lass has won three of her 12 starts and has been placed another four times.
“This is the right time of the year for her and there is another race in couple of weeks for her if she pulls up well after today,” Baster said.
AAP TURF
