KYLEASE made it a Melbourne Cup Day to remember for her owners with a career-best performance at Eagle Farm.
The Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted-trained mare belied her $8.50 starting price in the $125,000 Spring Cup Open Quality (1000m) as she defeated a select field of sprinters that included SIMPLY FLY, KISUKANO and LE PALMIER.
A noted leader, KYLEASE found herself in the unfamiliar position of trailing the speed mid-race but the change of tactics proved a winning move.
As the leaders started to wilt, KYLEASE dashed to the front and repelled the swoopers to win by 0.4 lengths.
Credit must go to rider Stephanie Thornton, who has been aboard this mare in all 10 of her starts since relocating to Brisbane where her record now reads 10:3-3-1.
“I love this horse. I’ve got a very big soft spot for her – she’s my favourite,” Thornton said.
“She tries her hardest every time she goes out there. As an older mare she’s gotten better. She used to overdo it in front but she’s learned to settle and harness her power and speed.
“She wants to win. She hates horses going past her.”
The daughter of CHOISIR has now amassed more than $400k in prizemoney, having been purchased by Proven for just $60k from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
The win continues a remarkable run of form for the O’Dea-Hoysted camp, being their seventh winner from 11 starters since October 20. The first three months of the season has been a boon for the stable as they now sit in outright second on the QLD metro trainers’ premiership with 21 winners and an extraordinary 36.2% strike rate.
Proven Thoroughbreds’ tally of winners climbed to 55 for the year and 22 for the season.