Lightly-raced mare New Beginning resumes at Taree on Tuesday with trainer Wayne Wilkes hopeful of a successful campaign.
Wilkes and owner Les Tinkler, have been extremely patient with the lean daughter of Reset.
And their patience looks like finally paying dividends.
New Beginning, with Wilkes’s 2kg claiming apprentice Melissa Brown up, resumes after a 291-day break in the Omni Class 1 Handicap (1007m).
“She was always a tall filly but very much on the lean side,” Wilkes said.
“Immature. That’s why we’ve given her time.
“This time in she’s still tall but a lot stronger, a much better mare.”
New Beginning debuted on her home track last year, winning a fillies and mares maiden over 1100m on a heavy track.
“Her debut win was very good then she was a bit sore, not 100 per cent next start,” Wilkes said.
“We tipped her out and the spell, and more time, has done her the world of good.
“She’s no bulldog, more a lean, lengthy type but she’s filled out in the right areas.”
In work for just over two months, Wilkes has been delighted with New Beginning’s progress.
“I’m very pleased with her,” he said.
“She’s had a couple of jump outs, come through them, done well in the stable.”
Like most mares, New Beginning can have her moments but Wilkes said she was generally a pleasant mare, who anyone can ride.
“Our main hope is she can have a decent preparation this time, hopefully step up to better things,” he said.
“We might even be able to find a race for her at Scone during the carnival.”
AAP TURF