Short course specialist UNDERHAND made it fours wins from her last six starts when resuming at Ipswich’s Thursday meeting.
Apprentice jockey Emily Lang, who has been in the saddle in all four victories, made the most of barrier one by leading throughout the 800m scamper.
UNDERHAND was all out over the final stages of the race but had enough in the tank to scrape home by half a head.
The daughter of WINNING RUPERT has been something of a revelation for the O’Dea-Hoysted stable. Following an inauspicious defeat in an 1100m Dalby maiden last June, the 4YO mare has found her range over the shorter distances, finishing in the quinella in six subsequent starts and taking her prizemoney beyond $100,000.
“Really tough effort from this mare today. Fitness was always going to be a query first-up as we feel she has a lot of improvement in her,” co-trainer Matt Hoysted said.
“She showed her usual blistering speed to take control of the race and kept kicking under a big weight which was a good effort as she’s not a big mare.”
There is another suitable 800m contest back at Ipswich on March 9 (BM65 Handicap) but ultimately, UNDERHAND will have far more race options if she can prove herself up to 1000m.
UNDERHAND was a $130,000 yearling from Kenmore Lodge’s draft at the 2021 Gold Coast March QTIS Sale.