A win in a four-horse barrier trial shed little light on what connections of Pin Up Sheila could expect from her on race day, but they were pleasantly surprised when the debutante led throughout to take the opening race at Canterbury.
A $50,000 buy at the Inglis Classic Sale, the two-year-old delivered an immediate return for her owners in Wednesday’s Exceedance @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1100m) at double-figure odds.
While the filly had taken out a recent trial, trainer Tom Charlton said she was still new and he wasn’t sure if that would count against her against some more experienced rivals.
“In the trial, you’re only learning so much. It was a four-runner heat so it’s difficult to really know,” Charlton said.
“She has always shown natural ability, but we haven’t been sure where that would take her. I was a bit worried she’d get to the front and look around a bit, but she handled it well.”
A daughter of versatile sire Pinatubo, Pin Up Sheila ($12) kicked strongly at the top of the straight for Dylan Gibbons and while she tired late, she had enough in the tank to hold on by a half-length over Celestial Charm ($3.80) with Extremely Chic ($12) another length away in third.
Gibbons said he had no hesitation to take her to the front after she jumped well and while she was green at stages, she was equally brave.
“The thing I liked is she got around the corner, got a little bit lost – maybe she felt my hands move – but she quickened up really nicely underneath me, and I thought she was going to take some catching,” Gibbons said.
“She was a little bit vulnerable late being her first time at the races, but she has still done a really good job today.
Tulloch Lodge also produced an impressive first starter in Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1250m) winner Front Rank ($5.50), who got the job done at both ends after having to work to get to the front before giving nothing else a chance in the straight.
Having taken a patient approach with the three-year-old, Bott is keen to get some racing under his belt.
“We’ve given him plenty of time to get to this point, so it’s a nice time of year for a horse like him to pick up a bit of confidence and go through his grades,” Bott said.