The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Surfin’ Bird had to endure a tough run from a wide barrier draw but she gamely held off a series of challenges to score a career-best win.
Star jockey Tim Clark revealed post-race that he “wasn’t overly concerned by the draw.”
“It’s a good start with a big long run before the first turn, so I knew we could take our time,” Clark said.
“Oh Diamond Lil gave us a nice bunny to chase, and I thought she was there to be beaten the last bit, but to her credit she dug deep for me.
“If you go back through her form, her win at Caulfield over seven furlongs was phenomenal. I think the key to her is building momentum, she likes to sustain a gallop.”
“This race has been her target so it’s always nice when a plan comes off.”
Waterhouse and Bott can now focus on securing that deserved stakes success with Surfin’ Bird ($4.40 favourite) after her game win over the luckless, fast-finishing Churchill’s Choice ($5.50) to win by a nose with Hyperbolic ($19) a neck away third.
“This mare really deserved that win,” said Tim Wilson, a director of First Light Racing which part-owns Surfin’ Bird.
“I know it’s not a stakes race, but it’s worth half a million dollars so it’s great prizemoney,
“She’s been really stiff in some of her runs but it was a super steer by Tim, he overcame the negative barrier with a nice positive ride.
“He said before the race that Oh Diamond Lil would set a good tempo and our mare would relish that. She’s at her best when she can sustain a string gallop, so the race mapped out perfectly for us.
“I thought she was the winner all the way until the very last stride. Then it was panic stations. It’s always nervy when you’re involved in a photo finish, but I’m just rapt that she held on. A lot of the boys have travelled up from Melbourne to watch the race, so I’m sure they’re going to have a big night.”
Surfin’ Bird is into $11 with bookies for the final Group 1 of the season, the $700,000 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 27. Fangirl is the early favourite at $2.30.
