Joe Pride‘s decision to seize the moment by running Miss Exfactor at Rosehill has paid dividends with the mare landing a valuable black-type win.
A $16 chance, Miss Exfactor dived through along the fence for Jay Ford to take out Saturday’s Group Three Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) by 2-1/4 lengths from Connemarra ($19) with Bangkok ($19) another long head back.
Pride opted to start the mare while the races were still going ahead, concerned the coronavirus threat could halt the industry at any time.
He made the same call on Fasika who was unplaced in the Group One Galaxy won by I Am Excited.
“It wasn’t that I brought her here today thinking she was a good thing,” Pride said.
“She had done well during the week and there was an opportunity here, we’ve got a virus hanging over our heads and I just think every opportunity you get to run your horses you should do it.
“It certainly didn’t work for Fasika but it worked out in this case.”
Ford said he was happy to stay near the inside on Miss Exfactor after horses had made ground near the fence in previous races.
“She’s in good form at the moment,” Ford said.
“She is quite a cantankerous mare. Her last two starts she has run really well. While she is in that mood she should continue to run well.”