Slow And Steady Wins The Race
- Monday, 14 June 2010 03:25
The Mark Kavanagh trained Believe'n Achieve bought up win number seven from just eleven starts in the $50,000 Hoyts Foods Handicap (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Believe 'n Achieve ($1.80,$1.65,$1.80) was given the run of the race by Mark Zahra who showed patience to avoid an early challenge by Illusionary ($15,$17) when Craig Newitt circled the field at the 600m mark.
Zahra balanced the hot favourite and proved too strong for the colts scoring by almost two lengths on the line to Bombay Sling ($5.50,$7) with a further three quarters of a length away to Stoneblack ($3,$3.30,$2.90) third.
Having won seven of her past eleven starts one might expect Kavanagh to gloat about the fillies incredible ability but his post race comments were anything but.
"She is a remarkable filly this one," said Kavanagh before adding, "because she does absolutely nothing on the training track."
Kavanagh admitted he wasn't quite sure how to handle connections enquiries into the fillies track-work as it simply isn't very impressive.
"The owners keep asking me how she is going and I have to tell them she ran her last 600m in about two hours on Tuesday morning," Kavanagh joked.
But track-work aside Kavanagh believed the run was full of merit with the three-year-old daughter of Beautiful Crown defeating the colts despite carrying the top weight of 58.5kgs.
"I was worried about the weight she would carry against some handy colts today but in the end it all depends on the motor, and she has a very good record," he said.
"We will give her a rest and aim her at a mares race later in the spring," Kavanagh added.
Zahra was clearly impressed with the consistent filly predicting bigger and better things down the track for the former South Australian
"She gave me a really good feel today," said Zahra.
"As soon as I put one around her tail she really found the line"
"I think she can step up to black type races now," he added.
Pictures: Fiona Tomlin & Colin Bull
