The decision to keep Egyptian Symbol close to home has paid off for her connections and trainer Bjorn Baker, with the mare adding to her impressive record in the Listed Starlight Stakes at Rosehill.
She had also been entered for Saturday’s Group Three George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben in Brisbane but Baker elected to keep her to 1100 metres for the first start of her latest campaign.
As the rain tumbled and the track was downgraded to heavy, Egyptian Symbol was backed late from $7.50 to $4.40 second favourite behind Tactical Advantage ($4).
The Joe Pride-trained Tactical Advantage, who was ridden by Rachel King after Glyn Schofield hurt his neck in a barrier incident before the previous race, led early but could not sustain the pressure.
Egyptian Symbol went from midfield to beat Glenall ($6.50) by 1-1/4 lengths, with a half-neck to the consistent Isorich ($31).
“She is a high-quality mare and has won a lot of good races so it’s a big thrill to get her back in winning form,” Baker said.
“You always hope they will come back better than ever but you never know until they do it.”
Egyptian Symbol ended her last campaign with a midfield finish in the Group One Tatt’s Tiara at Doomben during a Brisbane campaign that included a Group Three second to Eckstein, the recent runner-up to Shoals in the Group One Myer Classic at Flemington.
She has run at the past two Magic Millions days at the Gold Coast and next month’s meeting is again on the agenda.
“We’ll have a look at how she is and decide whether to run her in the fillies and mares race or the sprint but I’m thinking the sprint race,” Baker said.
Her latest win took Egyptian Symbol’s record to six wins from 20 starts for earnings of more than $650,000.
