The Chris Waller trained Mistressofillusion gained an overdue first win on Australian soil when Ben Thompson brought her with a well-timed run from off the pace to secure a half-a-length win in a Class 3 Handicap over 2040m at Doomben on Wednesday.
The Mastercraftsman mare had won two races in England, both over 2414m, in 2023, before heading to Australia. Her seven runs in England also produced three placed finishes over distances ranging from 2011m to 2816m.
The six-year-old came into the race on the back of an unplaced first-up run over 1800m … an outing which also had stewards placing a pre-race manners warning on the grey after she dislodged Bailey Wheeler when leaving the parade ring.
That run didn’t get any better from there with Mistressofillusion beginning awkwardly, being checked off heels at the 700m, running onto heels and being forced to shift in at the 350m and finally being steadied when disappointed for a run with 50m left to run.
With the benefit of that first-up run, with an increase in distance, with better manners on display, things played out very differently this time around.
“She will stay all day,” said Grant Morgan, the principal of On-Track Thoroughbreds. “Really, 2400m is her go, but we resisted the temptation to rush her out to 2400m second-up.
“There was this 2000m race here in what was probably the lowest grade she has been in. We wanted to get a win on the board and build on that.
“Unlike most European horses, she is a top of the ground horse. She won on the synthetic over there. In my mind when they win on the synthetic in the UK, they are normally top of the ground horses … and we like buying those sort of horses.
“She profiled as a firm track horse and the Doomben track was perfect for her.
“She is only a lightly framed mare. She doesn’t hold a lot of condition, so the trick will probably be to keep her happy and healthy in terms of condition.
“She is enjoying Queensland. She is thriving in Queensland since she has been here (Mistressofillusion had seven starts in Victoria and New South Wales before being brought to the Sunshine State).
“Manners-wise, she had the pony this time and went out fine,” continued Morgan.
“It is just so good to have Ben Thompson back here in Queensland. I actually asked the stable to put Ben on.
“We’d like to think she might be able to get to the Queensland Cup in three starts time and get some black type and, looking into the crystal ball, I wanted a rider who could get on her now, because she is quirky.
“She is definitely quirky.”
