Unbeaten mare White Sage has stepped up to the plate for her first black-type win at Rosehill with jockey James McDonald taking control of the Festival Stakes from the barrier to the winning post.
McDonald steered the mare over from the outside gate to lead a field of experienced campaigners and the result was never in doubt with White Sage holding off Terravista by two lengths.
White Sage - Photo by Steve Hart
Despite Saturday’s Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) being only the fifth start for White Sage, the four-year-old was sent out the $3 favourite.
Her trainer John O’Shea was rapt with the performance but deflected most of the praise to the mare and her rider.
“I left it to James as to what to do from out there. He’s the best,” O’Shea said.
“When she came out like that I knew she would be hard to beat.
“She was on the toe today and I thought she might jump and fly.
“She was very impressive and it’s very rewarding.”
O’Shea said White Sage would now have a break to get ready for the autumn.
“She’s a stakes winner now so she will be able to get into the better races,” he said.
“The Coolmore Classic is the race she will be set for.
“We will give her a short break but there’s not much time to start getting her ready for her next campaign.
“We don’t do a lot with her anyway. She just brings it to the races.”
McDonald said he had no doubt the mare could go on to Group One company.
“She just keeps improving and her heart’s as big as herself,” he said.
“She tries and I think that’s going to take her a long way. That’s five from five, it’s not easy to do. It won’t be her last that’s for sure.”
Terravista has had just one more start than White Sage and will also be spelled with a view to the autumn after adding a second to his four wins.
“It’s rare to see a horse do what he’s done during a preparation,” trainer Joe Pride said.
“We just happened to run into another one doing the same thing. I’m happy with how he went.”
