Revolina didn’t have the most auspicious start in life, but the fighting qualities she showed at birth are holding her in good stead on the racetrack.
Trained by Richard and Will Freedman, the three-year-old took her record to two wins from as many starts with a sustained display of speed in Saturday’s Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Not only was her effort to capture a black-type race at just her second start notable, she also overcame the odds as a foal when she was born with breathing difficulties and needed human intervention to live.
“(Owner) Ricky (Surace) has told me a number of times she actually came out as a dummy foal and she was touch and go to even survive,” Will Freedman said.
“To get her back through that stage, come here at her second start… don’t get me wrong, the pattern helped us, but she had the tactical speed to take advantage of the inside gate.”
Revolina is bred and owned by Surace’s B2B Thoroughbreds, which holds a slot in the $3 million Sunlight (1100m) at the Gold Coast in January.
Surace has been keen to get one of his own into the feature, and Revolina is shaping to be that horse.
“The main goal has always been to get to the Sunlight at the Magic Millions, so we’ll devise a plan from there,” Freedman said.
“There may be another run in the spring, but she’s almost earned her way to having a break.
“B2B have their own slot, so they’ve been crying out to find a horse they can run in it. She’s doing really well.”
Revolina ($11) dictated from the front and was never seriously challenged, running out a 1-1/2 length winner over Punxsutawney Phil ($7) with Our Emperor ($8.50) a short neck away third.
Tommy Berry said the three-year-old had plenty of upside and would be better ridden with a sit.
“I don’t think that is the way to ride her, leading, but we were handed the lead today,” Berry said.
“She still wanted to overdo things a little bit. I loved her tenacity late.”
