The Chris Waller-trained Frumos has aggravated many a punter over her career, but if those same punters followed her into her first Group level contest of her career in the Pam O’Neill Stakes, they were rewarded for their loyalty.
The four-year-old mare has been heavily backed at all bar one of her starts during her 10-start career, and it was no different at Doomben on Saturday, as she was heavily backed late into a $4.20 second favourite with online bookmakers in the Group 3 contest.
After jumping from barrier three, James McDonald has this daughter of Kitten’s Joy in the perfect position with cover and in a prominent position where she could strike at the top of the home straight and strike, she did.
With 300m to go, McDonald peeled off the heels of the race favourite Street Gossip to let down with that customary turn of foot that we all know she has, and even though she started to tire in the final 100m, the race was all over with Princess Rhaenys and Osmose making up a lot of ground with “back me next time” type of runs.
2023 Pam O’Neill Stakes Replay – Frumos
After the win of Frumos in the Pam O’Neill Stakes, Chris Waller had a few words to speak about the win and what will be next for his mare.
“It was a good win and aided by a very good ride,” Waller said of James McDonald.
“James put her in the perfect position and traveled comfortably, let down at the right time and stuck on gamely.
“There’s a nice series here. In two weeks’ time there’s a half-million dollar race.
“She’ll head there at Eagle Farm again over a mile and she’ll be hard to beat there.
“If she wins next start the Tiara at Eagle Farm (is possible).”
James McDonald has a very nice book of rides on Doomben Cup Day, with Zaaki in the Group 1 feature being the best.
“She just lost her way and has obviously recaptured that form now,” McDonald said.
“Obviously a track that is not so heavy, but she can get her toe in, suits her well.”
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