After being tested in Group company earlier this year, two-year-old filly September Run has begun her latest campaign with a narrow win at Canterbury that star jockey Hugh Bowman believes had plenty of merit.
A $380,000 yearling purchase for Hermitage Thoroughbreds, September Run was unplaced in the Inglis Nursery in December before running fourth in the Group Three Widden Stakes won by Away Game.
Returning from a spell in Wednesday's Iron Jack Handicap (1200m) for two-year-old fillies, the Chris Waller-trained September Run was in behind a wall of horses before bursting through a gap approaching the 100m.
Wild Irish made her run down the outside but $2.60 favourite September Run got home by a nose with Willinga Panache another 1-1/2-lengths away third.
“She had herself well worked up before the race and I thought it took its toll on her late in the piece,” Bowman told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“She gave a winning burst when the gap came but she was completing her run on the line and it was just her tenacity that got her over it.
“I think she'll improve from that because she was pretty wound up pre-race.
“She's in for a good winter campaign.”
Waller said it was the right time of the year for September Run late in her juvenile season to build confidence.
The Gary Portelli-trained colt Already Blessed notched his first win at his fourth start in the Too Darn Hot @ Darley Handicap (1200m) for two-year-old colts and geldings while a staying race for three-year-olds in Brisbane this winter could be considered for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding Navy Cross.
Navy Cross scored a hard-fought frontrunning win by a short-head in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1900m), one of two winners on the program for jockey Adam Hyeronimus while Sydney's premier jockey James McDonald also rode two winners.
By I Am Invincible out of Watchful, Navy Cross is a half-brother to 2011 Golden Slipper winner Sepoy.
“He a nice, progressive type and he could be one we look towards for a Brisbane race as well,” Bott said.
“I think the timing is right for him and he'll continue to improve stepping up in trip based on that win.”