Godolphin filly Calliope has started slowly but finished quickly to win the Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick.
The two-year-old went into Saturday’s Gimcrack (1000m) the clear favourite at $1.90 but messed up the start, coming out of the gate several lengths behind her competitors.
Calliope
But she overcame her bungled beginning to show an impressive turn of foot in the home straight, completing a last-to-first debut win by a length and three-quarters.
Trainer John O’Shea said Calliope’s ability to fight back under the guidance of jockey James McDonald was promising.
“James was patient on her and was confident in what he had underneath him, and got her into open space,” O’Shea said.
“We came in thinking she’d run well but to overcome adversity like that, it’s a wonderful performance.”
Godolphin Australia managing director Henry Plumptre said Calliope was very well regarded by the stable.
“John identified about 24 two-year-olds early on and she was among them,” Plumptre said.
“A thousand metres at Randwick seemed a long way and the straight seemed very long, but she did a great job.”
A spell in the paddock is on the cards for the filly, according to O’Shea, before a tilt at the Blue Diamond Stakes in the autumn.
“We’ll get her home and see how she pulls up, but she’d be a filly that we’d give a run to at Caulfield and take to the Blue Diamond,” O’Shea said.
“Then we’ll see about the Golden Slipper.”
