A pre-race plan to let Every Rose utilise her natural speed has come to fruition with the filly toppling her more highly-fancied rivals in the Light Fingers Stakes.
Trainer Mark Newnham had been thrilled with the three-year-old leading into Saturday’s Group Two feature, although a soft track and outside draw dented his confidence.
But Newnham and jockey Josh Parr stuck to their original race plan and Every Rose ($21) led throughout to beat the fast-finishing Never Talk ($16) with Away Game ($2.60 fav) third.
“Her best runs have been when she’s allowed to gallop,” Newnham said.
“She has got good speed. She won the Gimcrack in similar fashion then just got beaten by King’s Legacy in Brisbane doing that.
“It was heart in the mouth stuff. I was very confident at the corner but it was just a matter of whether her condition would hold out.”
The Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) gave Every Rose her first victory since she captured the Gimcrack Stakes on debut as a two-year-old.
Newnham said the filly had suffered several minor setbacks which had prevented her from performing to her best.
“It has been a bit of a patience game with her after winning the Gimcrack Stakes,” he said.
“She’s had a few little niggles but this time in she has had a trouble-free prep and it all went to plan.”
Newnham and Parr combined to win the Light Fingers Stakes two years ago with Nakeeta Jane, who went on to capture the Group One Surround Stakes.
Every Rose will be given the opportunity to emulate her former stablemate in the Randwick feature on February 27.
