Mare Of Mt Buller (+250) has put a run of outs behind her by taking out the Group 3 Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill, thanks to a perfect ride from Zac Lloyd on the Chris Waller-trained mare.
The daughter of Dundeel recorded back-to-back placings to kick off this preparation, but rising to 1900m third-up was the recipe for success, as the horse racing bookmakers favourite proved to be the superior stayer in the contest.
Little Baia () jumped well from her inside barrier to lead from Genzana (+6000), while Sounds Of Heaven (+300), It’s A Knockout (+500) and Harmonious Senora (+6000) settled behind the speed.
Rachel King slipped the leader more rein turning for home, and she kicked clear by two lengths; however, the runs were coming from everywhere as the back markers started to get into the race.
Sounds Of Heaven and Brigidine Gal () peeled off the leader’s heels to charge home in the final 200m, but it was Lloyd on the winner who was quickly picking off his rivals behind them to rush through the pack.
As the leader hit the 100m mark, there was only one danger, and it was Mare Of Mt Buller, who railed underneath Sounds Of Heaven to take over at the 50m mark and strode clear in the concluding stages.
Chris Waller spoke about the win post-race.
“It’s her home track, right distance. It was a beautiful ride,” Waller said.
“It would be lovely to watch the overhead. What they (jockeys) see in front of them, when the gap comes, when they have to take them and how narrow it actually gets.
“So it was a lovely ride, and that’s the difference between winning a race and running third, fourth, fifth.
“So it made a difference and Zac Lloyd is a rising star.
“We’ll see what’s around. We said we might just try and keep her as fresh as we can.
“That’s how she seems to race best at her second and third starts. So yeah, we’ll see what’s left after today.
“Otherwise, she might just have a few weeks off or easier training and then be ready to go again.”
Zac Lloyd was complimentary of the winner in his interview.
“She quickened really well which definitely helped. The first half, three quarters of the race went perfect, she was nice and asleep,” Lloyd said.
“They rolled the first couple of furlongs but then really backed off throughout the whole race.
“I thought, oh, she’s going to have to show a dynamic turn of speed here to win and that she did, so good win by the horse.
“She’s up to that kind of grade and possibly beyond, of course, we’ve seen her contest Group Ones before.
“Well, she’s got a very nice turn of speed for a horse.
“Today was nine and a half furlongs, about ten furlongs and she travels really well.
“I think anything further might take away that turn of speed but there’s plenty of good races in her keeping for sure, especially if she can show that turn of foot.”
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