Sassy Boom (+650) only recorded her second career victory at Sale last Sunday, but after such a strong performance, Danny O'Brien made the right call to back her up in the Group 3 Angus Armanasco Stakes and the filly landed the spoils at Caulfield.
Blake Shinn was quick to notice the early track pattern after the winners of races one and two came from inside the first two upon settling, so when the daughter of Spirit Of Boom came around the home turn under a hold, it was always going to be hard to run her down.
The race favourites were unlucky, as Serasana (+360) was posted three-wide for the entire trip and did well to hold onto third place, while Autumn Angel (+340) settled near last and didn't make much of an impression in the concluding stages.
Pure Paradise (+650) made ground along the rail, in what looks to be the place to be early on, but So Glamorous (+450) was the best of the swoopers out wide and ran home strong into second place.
However, all honours went to the winner as she ran away with a valuable black-type win.
Danny O'Brien was very pleased with the win of Sassy Boom, and he spoke post-race.
“She filled us with confidence last time that she'd won effortlessly, it was really a barrier trial style of run, she's a filly we just couldn't get going in the Spring so we only gave her the one run, but we've always had a good opinion of her,” O'Brien said.
“She had a very easy week, presented in great order again today, once again got a good map and a good ride and it was a very painless watch.
“She's an on-speed filly, and she's very much a firm ground filly.
“She doesn't appreciate anything other than a good three, good four.”
Blake Shinn echoed the thoughts of O'Brien in his post-race interview.
“I certainly did (have a lot of confidence),” Shinn confirmed.
“I've got a lot of respect for Danny, he's a wonderful trainer, he's been one of my biggest supporters since I've come back to Melbourne.
“He turned his horse out really well, he told me, he said she'd win and I got on her and she gave me a lot of confidence going to the gates.
“We envisaged being one, two in the run, she jumped well, just went a moderate tempo, she wanted to build from the five hundred.
“I put the pressure on early and Danny's a great conditioner of horse, so I had confidence to go early and she proved too good.”