A beach environment has breathed new life into promising mare Spirit Song who posted her third win in four starts for her trainer Aaron Purcell when she scored at Sandown.
Formerly trained at Mornington by John McArdle, the four-year-old mare’s only win had been at Morphettville in August 2010 but a change of scenery has improved her record to four wins from 15 starts.
She won her first two starts for Purcell at Ballarat in November and Moonee Valley in December.
She was freshened after a gallant second at Sandown on Christmas Eve and returned to the track to win Saturday’s Greater Dandenong Weekly Handicap (1600m).
Purcell was at the wedding of his sister, Sasha, and missed the race, but stable spokesman Peter Carroll has keenly watched Spirit’s Song’s progress.
“The environment down there (at Warrnambool) is suiting her very well,” Carroll said.
“The owners sent her down because she was tying up a fair bit but she is a very happy horse at the moment.
“We have worked her in the dunes and swum her a lot behind the boat.”
Ridden by Brad Rawiller, Spirit Song started $4 favourite and always had the drop on the leaders, settling third in the run.
After sweeping to the lead nearing the 200 metres the daughter of Invincible Spirit dashed away to win by 3-3/4 lengths from God Help Her ($7) and Procida ($4.60), who made up a lot of ground from worse than midfield.
AAP TURF
