Three-year-old filly Ancient Girl (NZ) got off the mark in fine style at Ballarat on Tuesday for trainer Clinton McDonald, with the daughter of Turn Me Loose knuckling down late to score on debut over 1200m.
Ridden by apprentice Josh Richards, Ancient Girl came from midfield on the synthetic track with a well-timed run to win in the manner of a filly that will appreciate getting over further.
“She’s a filly that has always shown a little bit,” McDonald said.
“We brought her to the synthetic because she had been spinning her wheels on the wet tracks and we had worked her on the Polytrack at home and she had worked well.
“We came here quietly confident and it was good to see her get the job done.
“She is a filly that is going to get out over some ground, so we will just take her along nice and quiet. It was a good experience for her today and I thought she was strong late and if she can keep improving, she will go somewhere.”
Ancient Girl is the second winner for emerging Windsor Park Stud stallion Turn Me Loose, who has been represented by Listed winner Turn The Ace, while he is also the sire of exciting stakes performer Verbek.
Bred by David Morris and Jason Thomasen, Ancient Girl was a $150,000 yearling purchase, with Doug Painter and Todd Hartley, who raced triple Group One winner Turn Me Loose, sharing in the ownership of the promising filly.
