Promise Of Success lived up to her name with a strong outside finish to take out the $200,000 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Newcastle, and the Queen Of The Turf Stakes is now on her radar.
Third-last for most of the race, John O’Shea’s six-year-old mare made her move wide out coming into the turn at the 400m mark.
That was when she fired, with Chris Waller’s Kiku a quarter of a length behind in second in a busy finish.
With three previous victories, Monday’s triumph was the biggest of her career, her best previous salute coming in the $130,000 Heineken 3 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on October 16 last year.
“She’s a lovely mare and we’ve been blessed to train her,” O’Shea told Sky Racing.
“She’ll head to the Legacy (Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Randwick on April 9). It’s always been on her radar. It’ll be nice for her to go there with her tail in the air and a nice win.
“She’ll have to step up another cog, but she’s so much better and more effective at Randwick.
“So hopefully that (Monday’s win) is sufficient enough to have her in the race.”
The horse’s jockey, Kerrin McEvoy, was happy when the pace dropped during the middle stages of the race.
“We were mindful of covering her up. She’s better when she’s covered up,” he said.
“Your chances are in the lap of the gods in regards to pace, but she was in a nice rhythm for me and I knew she was going to be aided by the ground.
“I was quietly confident she could run well and she did a good job. Good tough effort – she’s a lovely mare.”
Earlier, Character also recorded the best win of his career, producing a brilliant dash after he too drifted to the outside to salute in the $200,000 Tulloch Stakes (1850m) at Newcastle.
Three lengths behind the $1.80 favourite, Sword Point, jockey Tommy Berry timed the run home beautifully, edging in front at the 100m mark and winning by a comfortable length at the line.
Sword Point finished third, with Regal Lion ($4.80) second.
Paternal held the early lead before conceding to Zoumon, but after rounding the turn in a good position in third spot, the three-year-old gelding then dropped out and finished last.
The victory is sure to springboard Character’s career, having previously only won two $35,000 races.
He started from barrier two, with Berry using his experience to drift wide on the straight, Character using his superior staying speed from there.
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