Originally reluctant to compete, Godolphin filly Regimen has shown the focus and determination to race with her victory at Canterbury.
The three-year-old made it two wins from two starts in her metropolitan debut on Wednesday, and while the two-length margin was impressive Corey Brown was also taken with her improved behaviour.
And although she won convincingly, it was not all smooth sailing for Brown who will miss the Warwick Stakes meeting on August 19 after copping a careless riding suspension for an incident near the 300m.
Brown was dislodged from Regimen during the preliminaries at Gosford on July 11, when she reared up, struck an enclosure fence and had to pass a vet inspection before her debut win.
“She’s a funny, quirky little filly. She put the performance on at Gosford and I was lucky to stay on her a few times,” Brown said.
The $2.60 favourite kept the Gary Portelli-trained Sebring Express ($5) at bay in the Benchmark 71 Handicap (1250m) with a kick down the straight.
“Today was a great learning curve for her, more so from the enclosure through to the barriers,” Brown said.
As a former champion jockey, Godolphin representative Darren Beadman felt for Brown once he settled into the saddle.
“She’s very high maintenance but she’s got a lot of ability,” Beadman said.
“It was an intelligent ride from Corey. He went forward when they kicked up underneath him and then he tried to get a few cheap sectionals.”
Beadman was reluctant to compare Regimen to stablemate Alizee, who already has a black-type placing in her four-start career after finishing second in the Group Three Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill in March.
“Alizee has a little bit of a touch of brilliance about her but look you can’t do any more than what she’s done, this filly,” he said.
Brown thought Saturday grade beckoned for Regimen.
“I’ve also won two from two on (Godolphin filly) Manicure. They’re similar horses but she’s (Regimen) got determination. She’s very tough.”
Brown rode a double when the Allan Denham-trained Golden Shoes ($15) shaded Ebenos ($5) by a half head in the Benchmark 77 (1100m).
