Class performer Malt Time showed she is more than ready to make her presence felt in the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings with the perfect dress rehearsal at Ruakaka.
The Shaun and Emma Clotworthy-prepared daughter of former Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) winner Adelaide was attempting to make it four wins from just four starts at the venue when she tackled the Bream Bay (1400m) on Saturday.
Punters were firmly in her camp as she started the $2.50 race favourite against some talented rivals including stakes performers El Vencedor and Pearl Of Alsace.
Those who took the short odds could be forgiven for having a furrowed brow turning for home with rider Ace Lawson-Carroll behind a wall of horses on the mare and desperately seeking a gap between runners.
That gap came at the 250m and in a flash Malt Time was through and gone as she accelerated clear to win easing down by two lengths at the line from the late closing Quality Time and local runner Patricia.
Shaun Clotworthy was delighted by what he saw after having some early concerns about the mare’s prospects of getting the victory on a track playing in favour of those handy to the pace.
“That was very pleasing looking ahead to Hastings and even more impressive given she was against the pattern of the day,” Clotworthy said.
“We didn’t want to change her pattern as she does best when you let her find her feet early on and Ace did a good job to find that gap and get her through it in the straight.
“She has pulled up really well so she can have a few quiet days and maybe a trip to the beach before we head down to Hastings for the Arrowfield in three weeks.”
Clotworthy will be looking to go one better in the second Group 1 event of the season after Malt Time charged into second behind Mustang Valley in last year’s edition of the race that was run on a Heavy9 track.
“She has come of age for this prep and if we could go one better than last year with her it would be a very special result,” he said.
“I’ve seen a few races from the first day down there today and the track looks superb and is providing each runner with a fair shot at victory if they are good enough.
“I think our mare can compete at that level so we will be heading there with high hopes although very respectful of the good horses she will come up against.”
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