Ethan Brown admits things did not go to plan during the Rogan Josh Handicap on favourite Fidelia but the apprentice has praised the filly for still being able to win in style.
On the back of a last-start victory at Sandown, the Robbie Griffiths-trained Fidelia was sent out the $2.90 favourite in Saturday’s 1410m benchmark 78-race for three-year-old fillies at Flemington in the third start of her preparation.
Connections had hoped the favourite would find a position just behind the lead but instead Fidelia ended up having to come from last, unleashing a strong finish on the outside in the final 300m.
Fidelia’s finishing sprint was enough to swamp her rivals, beating Neighbourhood ($3.80) by a length, with a head to The Stylist ($151) third.
“Nothing went right but she overcame that and that’s the sign of a good horse,” Brown said.
“I got told to box seat, be in the one-one position, but she just wouldn’t muster speed,.
“I had to go to plan B.
“Coming around the home corner nothing went right for her. Horses were going left, right and centre and left us back last but she overcame that and sprouted wings late.
“I always felt her as the winner, it was just when I got out whether it was too late or not.
“The turn of foot she showed to pick them up that quickly was pretty amazing.”
Fidelia, who was tested in stakes company last spring, has now won three of her seven starts.
