Dual Group One winner Platelet has ramped up her spring campaign with a tactical victory in the Group Two Gilgai Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
The plan was to follow the speed before making a move and jockey Michelle Payne, substituting for the suspended Ben Melham, carried out the task to perfection.
Melham guided Platelet to her Group One wins in the Robert Sangster Classic and The Goodwood at Morphettville earlier this year.
Payne rang him on Saturday morning for some advice on how to ride Platelet, which paid dividends.
“He said just get her cover and she’s got a great turn of foot,” Payne said.
She followed Steps In Time ($5) who led the field up to the 400 metres.
“She was the main speed in the race and we got cover behind her and one last crack at her,” Payne said.
Platelet ($8.50) stretched out in the closing stages to win by three-quarters of a length from Spirit of Boom ($8.50) with Steps In Time a further half head away third.
Trainer Darren Weir said Platelet needed to sit behind Steps In Time for as long as she could but her brilliant start made that difficult.
“But she was first out of the barriers again and Michelle had to strangle her a bit for the first furlong,” Weir said.
“Once she got her back in behind them she travelled beautifully and let down really well.”
He said Platelet ould now head to the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on October 25 with the Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington on November 9 her spring swan song.
