Three-year-old filly Expat (NZ) (Makfi) turned in a gutsy performance to prevail in the Bowermans Commercial Furniture Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
After working hard early to find the front under Sam Clipperton, Expat looked to be under pressure midway down the straight, but dug deep to defy Miss Einsten (Dundeel) and Belluci Babe (NZ) (Per Incanto).
“She’s not a filly you can ride pretty and I think Sam benefited for having a ride on her the other day (when she finished third),” trainer Mark Newnham said.
“Today I said to use her pace and lead. She hasn’t got much change-up speed, but she is very genuine.
“She is a real trier and she gets through the ground well, so she should have a good winter.”
Expat’s win was the second leg of a double for in-form hoop Sam Clipperton.
“She is a lovely horse to ride from a jockey’s point of view, because she shanghai’s the barriers, puts herself right there and leads at a nice clip,” he said.
“I had to do a little bit of work on her. We got a nice breather for a furlong and a half mid-race and then I ramped the speed up again at the 550m.
“She sensed the challengers coming and she just finds another gear. She is very tough and bred to get over a distance and maybe that is why she likes to use her stamina.”
Expat, who has now won five of eight starts, is bred and raced by Australian Tony McGrath and is out of Galileo mare Utmost Caution, dam of stakes placed Mental Telepathy (NZ) (Shocking) and another three winners.
