It was a race that greatly changed complexion over the final furlong, with Mark Newnham mare Zain’s Girl ($6.50) sticking her head out at the right time to resume in fine fashion at Royal Randwick.
After the Jarrod Austin-prepared Suprina was in front by upwards of three lengths upon straightening, it set it up for the back markers to storm home over the top of them in the concluding stages.
The Zoustar mare held off another fast-finishing effort from race favourite Van Giz ($4F) by a short neck, with Feel The Knight ($4.60) only a long head back in third place in a stirring go. Early leader Suprina ($5.50) just faded late to finish fourth, a further half length away.
Newnham was pleased to see his five-year-old come back from the spell in good order, and was equally effusive about the steer of his indentured apprentice Tyler Schiller.
“She’s a really good short course mare when she’s held up like that. She’s got a short, sharp sprint,” Newnham said.
“Tyler rode her really well, he played to her strengths where she’s got a really dynamic 300m.
“He rode her into the straight with cover, produced her at the right time and she was good enough.
“That’s the first win on dry ground, so that was a worry with today’s conditions, but in a five-year-old and up race she was well placed.”
It brought up the first win on Zain’s Girl for jockey Schiller, who had placed on four occasions from seven previous rides, and he was well aware of the early tempo in the race.
“When I straightened up I looked at Suprina in front, she was highballing and I thought I was actually going to have a pretty good task to get to her,” Schiller said.
“She probably bottomed out a bit late, but she’s always done that and she’s got a pretty short sprint, but it’s a good sprint.
Having ridden her when last in work, Schiller believes Zain’s Girl has come back a more mature horse.
“I thought she was a bit stronger today,” Schiller said.
“She was mentally relaxed and really saved her energy for the race.
“I tried to hold her up as long as possible, but when I saw Dylan (Gibbons on runner-up Van Giz) going for his run I had to go and she was very strong.”
As to if he managed to get back to his home town of Young for Christmas Day, Schiller wasn’t as positive.
“I stayed up at Sydney, still worked,” Schiller lamented.
“Mark’s got me on the job so I can’t get away with anything.”
