A first-up win by Pendeloque has set the scene for an early autumn carnival assault after the filly showed her rivals at clean pair of heels at Randwick.
Trainer Gerald Ryan has earmarked a couple of early stakes races for Pendeloque who claimed her second win from five starts on Saturday.
“I’m hoping we can go through the grades and then to a race like the Light Fingers Stakes,” Ryan said.
“She will be hard-fit and it might catch out some of the other better fillies coming back in the autumn.”
Pendeloque ($4.40) stood patiently while From Within caused some pre-race drama when she reared up and fell over.
She hit her head when she went up and was automatically withdrawn and will need to go back to the barrier trials.
Pendeloque had no problems, leaving the gates first under stable apprentice James Innes Jr and safely held the chasers in the Tab.com.au handicap (1100m).
Junglized ($8) travelled on her outside throughout but had no answer when the filly kicked clear and went down by a length.
Favourite Kennedy ($3.20) held his spot to finish another nose away third.
“I took the opportunity to go forward and it paid off,” Innes said.
“She did the job well.”
