BY their own admission, the Michael Costa stable at Warwick Farm were essentially using yesterday’s Class 1 Handicap at Tyers Park in Bathurst as a comfortable means of easing Shebrings Class back into racing after a six-month spell.
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The five-year-old mare had other ideas.
With help from a perfect ride from Rachael Murray, the five-year-old picked up the second win of her career in the 1106-metre dash and looked like she barely had to get out of second gear to do it.
For the big syndicate of owners who took the $6.50 on offer for her as well as their share of the prizemoney, it was a nice day to be at the track.
And a surprising one.
“Absolutely that was a huge shock. To see her run that well was very surprising,” Costa stable foreman Fabian Welk said.
“We did expect her to run a good race, but today was all about getting some fitness back into her after a long time in the paddock.
“To be realistic, we were probably looking at her third-up race as one that we might be able to set her for as far as winning goes.”
David Vandyke’s entry It’s All Irish dominated punters’ attention pre-race and he started as a $3.10 favourite.
Murray took Shebrings Class from gate nine across to the front early.
Settling on the rail and easing to a lead of a little over a length, the daughter of former Golden Slipper and Sires Produce Stakes winner Sebring out of Crown Princess was in cruise control.
In the end only Magic Season ($9.70), who got to within a length-and-a-quarter of Shebrings Class on the line, took ground off the leader.
“It has been a sad few days in racing after Bart Cummings passed away, but things like this remind you of the fun part of racing,” Welk said.
