Alison Smith’s Absolute Ripper returned to her favoured 1000 metres in style at Towac Park on Monday, holding off a late charge to seal the narrowest of victories in the seventh race of Racing Orange’s season-opening meet.
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The five-year-old bay mare ($7) had to be taken on trust in the Inland Digital Benchmark 65 Handicap on Monday after finishing at the back of the field in her last two starts, she battled over 1400 in a strong heat of the Country Championships at Wellington in March before a spell, then coasted after jockey Blaike McDougall lost the whip at Canterbury last month.
But coming off a freshen-up and back at her home track over the kilometre, Absolute Ripper led from start to finish on Monday, although it took a mighty effort to hold off the fast-finishing Joey’s Destiny ($4).
Smith’s sprinter eventually hung on to win in a photo finish – by a nostril, really.
She jumped beautifully and showed superb pace through the middle stages of the sprint, taking a two-length lead into the straight at Towac and holding off Clint Lundholm’s gelding to win.
Bjorn Baker’s $1.85 favourite Pray to the Sky ran third.
Bathurst’s Dean Mirfin rounded out the meet by claiming the eighth with Prince Planet ($5.50).