Former champion sprinter Black Caviar has put her stamp on the midweek Sydney meeting with her granddaughter, Ready Forcocktails, scoring an impressive maiden win.
Trained by John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes, Ready Forcocktails was having her fourth start and second this campaign after finishing runner-up to Celestial Charm on the Kensington track last month.
Winning jockey Tyler Schiller said the three-year-old had showed her share of promise on the training track, and he was thrilled to see her break her duck.
“She has always shown so much at home, so we expected a bit before this run,” Schiller said.
“But obviously, she ran into a nice enough two-year-old last start and last ‘prep’, she didn’t have a couple of things go her way.
“Today, she has found the right race to get a bit of confidence under the belt.”
Ready Forcocktails ($3.20 fav) sprinted quickly when asked for an effort by Schiller to take out Wednesday’s TAB Plate (1150m) by three lengths over Claudel ($4.60), with Sorentina ($18) another three-quarters of a length back in third.
Schiller said the winner was suited by a genuine tempo and sustained a strong run through the line.
“She lobbed in a lovely spot, and the pace was nice today,” he said.
“The other day it was a touch steady for her, but very happy with the way she has put them away.”
Two-year-old filly Consulate ticked an important box with her first city win in the Robrick Lodge Plate (1250m).
Chris Waller’s assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, said the stable had held the juvenile’s half-brother, Battuta, in good regard, prompting them to buy her as a yearling.
“It’s a bit of a relief really. We had the half-brother called Battuta, who showed a lot of early promise and that was a good reason behind purchasing this filly at the Easter sales,” Duckworth said.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t quite work out, but she looks like she is. Hopefully she can go on with the task now. Over further, she is going to be better suited.”
Starting a $2.60 favourite, Consulate overhauled a game Castelbella ($12) with the winner’s stablemate, Snitzel’s Girl ($6.50) third.
