John Sadler joked that ‘trainer stubbornness’ was the reason Merrigold hadn’t been tested over 1600m prior to winning at Flemington on Saturday.
The five-year-old mare had previously been kept between 1000 and 1400 metre races, but proved the extra furlong was right up her alley, winning the Vobis Gold Distaff (1600m) impressively.
While winless in six runs this preparation, Merrigold had been close up her past two, including running fourth at 100-1 in the Vobis Gold Bullion (1400m) behind Persian Spirit at Pakenham two starts ago.
Sadler admitted he was surprised with how strongly $10 chance Merrigold ran out the trip, settling off the speed under Jye McNeil and coming clear to score by two lengths over Make It Sweet ($11), with Jimmy The Bear ($5.5) running an improved race in third.
“I really wanted to run her in a mile race,” Sadler said.
“Everybody was keen to see how she would go over a mile, including myself, but I really doubted that she’d run it.
“She was given a beautiful ride and every chance to run it, but I was surprised how strong she was at the end of it.
“She ran right through the line and that’s probably her best win.
After winning four of seven starts last time in, finishing runner up on the other three occasions, Sadler said there had been a few little factors against Merrigold this campaign that were rectified on Saturday.
“I suppose last campaign, she had seven runs, she won four, and ran second three times and had a terrific campaign.
“This time, she hasn’t won a race this time until today.
“Her only bad run was on a very wet track which she doesn’t handle at all, and the rest of her runs have been somewhat unlucky,
“Everything went well for her today and even though it would be a mile, she was really, really good.”
With the proven ability to run a strong mile now under her belt, Sadler will look for potential black type opportunities to enhance Merrigold’s value even further.
“That’s what you’ve got to look for now. That would be the icing on the cake with her to win a black-type race,” Sadler said.
