Seeking Asylum has continued to surprise her trainer with victory at Canterbury in a three-way finish in which Gary Portelli was convinced she had been beaten.
But the photo showed Seeking Asylum had stuck her head out when it counted to claim Saturday’s TAB Place Multi Handicap (1550m).
It was the two-year-old’s fourth win from five starts since she began racing in June and her first against her own age group.
“From where I was watching I thought she had been beaten,” Portelli said.
“She is an amazing filly.
“I came home from holidays last Friday week and told the owners after she won at Kembla Grange on Saturday she would be needing a spell,” Portelli said.
“My foreman told me not to be so quick because she would bounce back and he was right.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a horse that has won four races in its first preparation.
“And the fact that until today she had been racing against older horses shows how tough she is.
“Early on she didn’t really show anything but now I guess we are looking at some spring races with her.”
Seeking Asylum ($4.40) edged out favourite Balboa Park ($3.80) by a short half head with a nose to Prince Roo ($26).
In the other two-year-old race on the program, the McGrath Estate Agents Hcp (1250m), the Ron Quinton-trained Let’s Make It Rain ($10) was a decisive one-length winner over Tatoosh ($4) with Inner Circle ($4.80) another 1-1/4 lengths third.
Quinton admitted he had overestimated Let’s Make It Rain’s fitness levels when he raced at Rosehill where he finished seventh over 1200 metres on July 4.
“I thought I had him fit enough last time but he wasn’t,” Quinton said.
“He has always shown promise but I didn’t know if he could beat the favourites today.”
Vanbrugh was sent out the $2 favourite but he gave in quickly at the top of the straight.
Trainer Chris Waller said on face value the horse was disappointing after an attempt to ride him in a more forward position.