Bjorn Baker and Jason Collett have combined with Within The Law ($5.50) to claim a barnstorming victory in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon.
The daughter of Lucky Vega had to do it the hard way on Saturday, with the two-year-old filly forced to pass them all from the rear of the field after suffering a severe check at the start.
Collet was happy to bide his time at the rear of the field, while the well-supported favourite with horse racing bookmakers Bellazaine ($3.60) pressed forward to set a moderate tempo throughout the 1200m journey.
Wootton Lass ($13.00) showed plenty of early speed on debut to hold a position towards the front, while the likes of Snitzel Miss ($4.80), Memo ($5.00) and Price Tag ($9.50) were happy to find cover in the early stages.
Bellazaine looked to give them the slip turning for home, putting three lengths on her rivals as Tim Clark asked for the ultimate effort.
Within The Law was the only one making significant inroads late and appeared to be leaving her run too late as she powered down the centre of the course; however, she was able to get the head down where it matters most to claim her third win at start four.
Racing manager Luke Hilton was on course to speak on behalf of the Bjorn Baker barn post-race.
“That was phenomenal,” said Hilton.
“In the run nothing went right. She couldn’t have got any further off the track and to just see her keep coming, I still didn’t think she was going to get there halfway down the straight.
“She’s been like this the whole time through, she’s got so much heart and she doesn’t know how to run a bad race.
“Definitely exciting for her, she’s a really lovely filly. And to put her hand up today and get a run in the Slipper, before today she had zero prizemoney (for the Slipper) unfortunately, but she goes there as a live chance.”
Jason Collett was elated with the win and spoke to the adversity Within The Law was forced to overcome.
“I got squeezed pretty heavily from the gate,” said Collett.
“I had no forward momentum whatsoever, I was wide. I sort of got the back of Snitzel Miss and then I was working on the turn and wanted to get going and get her into it a bit earlier today than last start and I was able to achieve that, but until I saw Gai’s runner I thought ‘I might have a bit too much work to do here’.
“She’s just raw and she keeps raising the bar every time. It was restricted company the last three starts but just the way she keeps attacking the line, you’ve got to love that about her.
“I was wide and never really where I wanted to be but I knew I needed to be there to give her that chance. I knew she would be strong late.
“I wanted to get her going a bit earlier today than last start and make sure she was strong late. She was strong late but she probably didn’t get to see the Gai runner (Bellazaine) until the last bit which was just about too late.”
Within The Law is now a $11.00 chance with Neds for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) on March 22.
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