The four-year-old mare Better Get Set and her three-year-old brother Thatfeelsbetter gave Jamie Walter's Proven Thoroughbreds and the training partnership of Steve O'Dea and Matt Hoysted a day to remember at Ipswich on Wednesday.
Both did the right thing by punters that backed them in to favouritism.
Better Get Set stated the ball rolling when barely breaking a sweat with a two and a half-length romp over 1200m.
It was the third win for the daughter of Better Than Ready.
“She has run in better races than this. It’s early doors in the preparation, but it has been two really good efforts in the first two starts off the campaign,” Hoystead said.
“We will see her back in Saturday grade now.
‘Ridden a touch quieter, she will be even better, but in this grade, Baylee (Nothdurft) rated her perfectly.
“She is a filly with a lot of promise. She has come back better this preparation, and she will continue to improve.”
Proven Thoroughbreds/Steven O'Dea Racing purchased Better Get Set for $85,000 from the Lyndhurst Stud Farm draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, and she has returned $159,375 in 13 starts to date.
Baylee Nothdurft was back in the saddle on Thatfeelsbetter, who improved on his second on debut at the Sunshine Coast to hold the challenge of the Eurozone filly by three-quarters of a length in the 1200m maiden.
“He is a horse with a lot of promise,” Hoysted enthused.
“He will be better over further. I was a little surprised when he was so close in the run.
“When he hit the front so far from home, he wanted to clock off. He didn’t really know his job but will take plenty of benefit from today.”
Thatfeelsbetter cost $5,000 less than his sister when offered by Lyndhurst Stud Farm at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale,
The pair are the first two foals of the Fastnet Rock mare Ridolfi.
Unplaced in two starts, Ridolfi is out of the Stravinsky mare La Italia, winner of the Group II WRC Wakefield Challenge Stakes and placed in the Group 1 ARC Diamond Stakes.
Few would be happier than Nicholas Walsh, who purchased a sister to Better Get Set and Thatfeelsbetter for just $22,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
