A few days ago trainer Gerald Ryan asked Perignon’s owner Damion Flower to come to his stable to check the filly.
On Saturday Flower was front and centre when Perignon swooped from midfield to claim the Group Two Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) as a $9 chance.
Perignon
“Gerald rang me and asked to look at her to make sure she still had all her legs. He couldn’t believe the price she was,” Flower said.
“He has said all along this preparation how well she is going.
“He has always thought she would be much better given time and she has needed it.”
Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me was the $2.60 favourite ahead of the in-form Kangarilla Joy ($3.30).
Although she had won only one race before Saturday, Perignon had twice been runner-up to Speak Fondly in Group Two races and ran third to the Gai Waterhouse-trained filly in the Group One Flight Stakes.
Tim Clark had Perignon racing quietly midfield and she unleashed what has become her customary sprint down the outside to claim Kangarilla Joy by a head with a half neck to Tempt Me Not ($26).
Stay With Me raced was the last of the seven fillies coming into the straight and made some ground for fifth.
“She will run in the Surround Stakes next and maybe the Coolmore Classic,” Flower said.
“But depending on how that field looks, the Australian Guineas is an option.”
Flower paid $350,000 for Perignon at the Magic Millions sale, but she almost slipped through his fingers.
“Another bloke liked her and Gerald bought her for him,” he said.
“But then he came back and said he’d bought a boat instead so I got her after all.”
