A hit-and-run raid on Melbourne didn’t produce the desired result but it did teach connections of smart mare Villami an important lesson.
The daughter of Foxwedge resumed with a Group 3 placing in the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield, a race co-trainer Gerald Ryan had been confident she could win.
But on reflection, he says the performance showed she had finally learned to settle in her races and he has seen similar signs in the mare’s trials and trackwork, indicating she might even stretch out in distance this campaign.
“At first I was disappointed but then when you analysed it, we learned something out of it,” Ryan said.
“She didn’t begin as quick as she normally does but she settled behind the pace and maintained it, she didn’t drop out.
“Damien Thornton who rode her, and it was the first time he’d been on her back, he thought she’d run seven furlongs.
“She used to want to overdo things. But even when she led in her trial and things sat outside her, she didn’t worry about pulling or wanting to run away. She just travelled nice and she’s doing that in her work.”
Villami will line up in Saturday’s Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) at Randwick and from an ideal draw in gate four, Ryan is hoping she can stalk what should be a solid speed.
The five-year-old is only lightly raced due to a combination of her immaturity and an aversion to wet tracks and has won three of her 14 starts.
She should get her preferred firm conditions at Randwick and Ryan is adamant the mare’s best is still to come.
“The pressure that’s in this race on Saturday, the speed that’s in it, we’re going to get a chance to ride her with a sit,” Ryan said.
“If you’d known the filly and you see the mare, she’s a lot stronger now and the Foxwedges get better as they get older.”
