A rookie trainer's gamble has delivered a Breeders Classic upset
A rookie trainer’s gamble on a jockey with an unproven record at stakes level has delivered a Breeders’ Classic upset at Randwick.
Nineteen-year-old apprentice Andrew Adkins rewarded Ben Smith for his support when In Her Time ($15) outlasted the favourite Egyptian Symbol ($3.90) in the Group Two race over 1200m on Saturday.
The win in the $200,00 race signalled the first stakes wins for Adkins as well as the trainer with an unfashionable team who put him on.
But Smith almost missed watching his finest moment in racing.
Asked what he thought when Egyptian Symbol loomed menacingly after having a much more economical run, Smith said: “I stopped watching. I turned away.”
The collective voice found by In Her Time’s owners gave him the confidence to turn back to watch the final stages.
In Her Time had a long neck to spare over Egyptian Symbol with a half length to third-placed Flippant ($5.50).
Adkins, indentured to Ron Quinton, is well in contention to win the Sydney apprentices’ premiership but he won’t forget In Her Time’s win in a hurry.
“It’s something to always remember, you’re first Group Two winner,” he said.
“You dream of these days and for them to come true it’s pretty special.”
But Adkins said winning a significant race had come much sooner than he had expected since switching from the bush circuit to the city in late 2015.
“I won on her last start and Mr Smith wanted to put me on and for him and the owners to stick by me it’s been a great opportunity,” he said.
“‘It’s something my boss always tells me ‘don’t rush these things, let them happen’ and it did today.”
Adkins allowed In Her Time to push forward until she travelled strongly outside the leader Magnajoy.
He took the four-year-old to the front at the 300m and dared his rivals to catch his mount.
“It was going to be a tight finish but she is very, very tough. That’s the type of mare she is,” Adkins said.
Smith admits he tried to force the issue with In Her Time during her first visits to the races.
“She was probably a little bit too immature and we were being a bit too ambitious,” he said.
Egyptian Symbol was backed into favouritism after $5 was offered about her chances.
It seemed certain it would be a bad result for bookmakers when she emerged from behind the leaders at the 200m.
“Travelled like the winner, loomed like the winner. Didn’t win,” jockey Jason Collett said.
