A drop in grade paid instant dividends for honest mare Ararat Lady (NZ) (Battle Paint) on Friday night.
Cliff Brown’s four-year-old had been testing her mettle against tougher opposition since her last win in a Class 4 race over 1100m in February, including even a raid in the JBBA Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) in April.
While certainly not disgraced, she was a different proposition when eased back in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1200m.
Bolting straight to the lead from barrier No 1, Ararat Lady never gave any anxious moments to the punters who backed her down to $16.
The well-supported Lim’s Zoom (NZ) (Zacinto) did let down, but when it was all over. He ran second 1 ¼ lengths away with Lincoln Moonlight (NZ) (Alamosa) third another neck away. The winning time was 1min 10.92secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack.
“That was a tremendous win for a good group of owners (Jass Stable). It’s also good for the staff,” said Brown.
“The race panned out nicely for her. She is a very genuine mare.
“I personally like to train mares, and I think more people should race them. Here, there is no season, no autumn or spring, so they have no cycle problems.
“They are really genuine performers and give me no issues at all.”
Rodd said the return to a class which was more up Ararat Lady’s alley was the main winning factor.
“She’s a funny little thing. She’s been up in class and tonight, she was back in Class 4,” said the Australian jockey.
“She drew a good barrier and she was left alone. We didn’t want to lead, but as nobody wanted to lead either, I couldn’t resist.
“The pace has been dynamite all night and I didn’t want to lose it. I know she won a Restricted Maiden on turf, but I think Polytrack is more suitable for her.
“She’s got a really nice turn of foot.”
With that third win from nine starts, Ararat Lady has now chalked up in excess of S$130,000 for the Jass Stable.
