Consistent sprinter In Her Time has fittingly broken through for a maiden Group 1 win in The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.
The Time Thief mare finished in the minors in several Group 1 feature races in 2017, but did her chances of breaking the hoodoo this afternoon no harm when she jumped well and took a position midfield.
Enjoying a relatively carefree run in transit, Hong Kong-based hoop Zac Purton began steadily working the mare into the race as the field turned for home and she simply looked the winner almost immediately; storming to the lead and maintaining to the line to beat an eye-catching English ($16) and Viridine ($4.40).
Purton piloted the mare for the first time this afternoon and was thrilled to claim a Group 1 win for Newcastle-based trainer Ben Smith.
“She’s been very good this prep,” Purton said.
“She obviously trialled well and she’s deserved to win a Group 1, now she’s finally got it so I’m really thrilled for Ben and the connections.
“She began really well – I was able to come across and just slot in nicely behind the speed, and they kept the hammer down from the half-mile to the 400m, and I just sort of had to come out wide and roll into it.
“She got there pretty easy and just wandered a bit late, but it was a good effort.”
Smith was thrilled with the horse’s performance and was pleased that she was able to realise her Group 1 potential in The Galaxy.
“Its been a little while, probably 12 months now we’ve been waiting,” the trainer said of his horse’s Group 1 prospects.
“Zac rode her a treat today. It was probably even a bit further back than what she usually is, so for her to knuckle down and really come after them like that and finish off like that is very pleasing.
“We all thought she was good. Ashe’s a lot bigger and strong this time in and those few problems that have niggled her for twelve months or so now, she’s over that.
“It was just a matter of whether or not she could transfer it to race day. I don’t know what to feel at the moment, it porbably hasn’t sunk in yet.”
In taking out The Galaxy, In Her Time now boasts an impressive career record of eight wins and four minors from only eighteen competitive starts.