Race experience was the key for Hayasugi (+400) in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview (F), as the Clinton McDonald-trained filly proved a little too tough for her rivals at the end of the 1000m scamper at Caulfield.
After jumping a little slow, Jamie Kah was able to get the daughter of Royal Meeting in the three-wide running line and allowed her to travel into the race on the home turn.
Tobeornottobe (+550) appeared to have stolen the race when the likes of Shehungthemoon (+400) and I Only Wish (+2000) started to fade out of the race; however, Hayasugi was flashing home down the outside and she got her head down in the final strides to nab the leader late.
The three runners from the Anthony & Sam Freedman stable finished in a line of three, with Matisse (+400) finishing ahead of Shehungthemoon and Mindshift (+500).
Clinton McDonald was very pleased to get the Group victory and he spoke post-race.
“Yeah, definitely (great to get some black type with this filly), last year we won the Adams Stakes with Star Patrol for these clients,” McDonald said.
“She made a lot of improvement because she has only had the one trial and it was a soft trial, she was meant have two trials but they were cancelled after the wet weather.
“I thought it was a really good win, because she was back, wide and had to find the line.
“She was tough enough to win and race day experience, you can't beat it.
“We think six furlongs will be right up her alley, she's not a 1000m horse that's for sure.
“What she shows at home that she has a nice turn of foot and we are hoping that's what will show up over six furlongs.”
Jamie Kah is starting to build a good connection with Hayasugi, and she was very complimentary of the filly post-race.
“She's a really classy filly and she does whatever you ask her to,” Kah said of Hayasugi.
“She was definitely filling the pinch late, but she was good enough to get the job done.
“I gave her a little squeeze and got her to tuck in, she has taken a lot of learnings from her first preparation.
“She feels like that. I galloped her on Monday, and she gave me a really nice feel, but she was just feeling the pinch late, fitness-wise, and I think she will appreciate the 1200 (metres).”
Hayasugi is now a $17 chance in the Blue Diamond Stakes futures market with top horse racing bookmakers.