It was mission accomplished for trainer Mitchell Pateman at Ascot on Sunday. The pressure valve has been released.
His exciting filly Glasgow Lass earned black type status for the first time with victory in the Listed Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m).
Rebounding after two unlucky runs to kick off her campaign, Glasgow Lass won by a long neck after being ably assisted by jockey, Lucy Fiore.
Machine Gun Gracie ran an outstanding second with another ¾ of a length to third placegetter, Twilight Tale to round out the first three.
Securing maiden stakes success not only validates trust placed in Mitchell Pateman but gives Glasgow Lasses WA Oaks campaign a big shot in the arm.
Her third win from five races honours a commitment made by Pateman to powerful Melbourne breeding operation Yulong Farm, who bred the filly.
Glasgow Lass was bought for $28,000 by former top Perth trainer, Justin Warwick, at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale before Yulong took a controlling interest after her win on debut in January last year.
Resigned to Glasgow Lass leaving his stable and going interstate after the sale, Pateman was pleasantly surprised, but thrilled when Yulong elected to have the classy galloper stay in Perth and race under his direction.
That faith was vindicated in the Ascot 1000 Guineas.
“I’ve got to give a big thanks to Yulong Investments, with that many setbacks she’s had they could quite easily have taken her,” Pateman said.
“They left her here and gave me one job: get black type.
“She’s got that, so job done.”
Pateman is full of admiration for Glasgow Lass, saying she’s endured and had to overcame her fair share of adversity for such a young horse early into her career.
Her two-year-old campaign was cut short after bone chip surgery and on the eve of the most recent Ascot carnival she suffered a stress fracture in her shoulder.
Her opening two races this time in was beset by bad luck, running third in the Breeders (1200m) after travelling wide and fifth in the Challenge Stakes (1500m) when held up.
Despite the setbacks, Pateman never lost belief in Glasgow Lass.
“She’s had a career and life of no luck, things have never worked out for her,” Pateman said.
“I’ve been confident all prep she was flying and she should have probably won the first two she went in.
“Lucy gave her a beautiful ride and she showed how good she is.”
Pateman says it’s full steam ahead to the WA Oaks (2400m) after Glasgow Lass takes in the Natasha Stakes (2200m) next.
After showing speed over shorter trips previously, Pateman had no concerns that Glasgow Lass could stretch out in distance in a bid to reach the Oaks.
“They did a gene test on her as a young horse,” Pateman said.
“I know over east they put a big emphasis on that.
“That test said 1800 and 2000m would be perfect for her.
“Looks like it’s pretty right and she’s on her way to a WA Oaks.”
Glasgow Lass took out honours, but runner-up Machine Gun Gracie lost no admirers in defeat.
Making the big leap from a Pinjarra maiden, the Maschino filly was headed by Glasgow Lass in the straight but fought back and kept coming to the line.
Twilight Tale and Flower Of Gold, running fourth, were winding up late.
Fiore, who had Glasgow Lass settled fourth and on the back of Machine Gun Gracie, reaffirmed her affinity for the Ascot 1000 Guineas.
She’s made it her race in three of the past four years after booting home Admiration Express (2023) and Constant Dreaming (2022).
The Group 3 WA Oaks is run at Ascot on April 5.
