With the bluebloods The Taj Mahal(IRE) and Villermont winning the days features at Sandown, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained mare Long Time Ago added her name to the list when earning a maiden stakes victory in the Group III Summoned Stakes (1500m).
The 4yo daughter of champion stallion Redoute's Choice is the first foal of 2010 Group 1 AJC Australian Oaks heroine Once Were Wild (Johannesburg (USA).
Giving Kerrin McEvoy a winning treble on the day, Long Time Ago came with a powerful finish to defeat Mrs Gardenia (Rip Van Winkle) by a neck with Oregon's Lady (Domesday) two and a quarter lengths back in third. (photo Darryl Sherer ).
It advances the record of Long Time Ago to 3 wins and 1 second from 8 starts with earnings of $158,200.
"She didn't jump that well and was a step slow," McEvoy said.
"That put me in an awkward spot, but I was able to get onto the back of Damian Lane before the turn and then once she hit the rising ground she really began to finish off.
"She's a really progressive mare and only going to get better as she gets out over further."
A homebred for John Singleton, Long Time Ago was racing for the first time since finishing unplaced over 1800m at Randwick in August.
"When I brought her down she was a bit like a scarecrow her rump was like an A-shaped tent," Waterhouse said.
"But she just seems to love it down here and I rang Singo, Trevor Kennedy and Mark Carnegie and said I think we've got a bit of a winning chance."
Once Were Wild had been a reliable producer until missing to Hinchinbrook last spring.
She has a 2yo colt by Redoute's Choice named Bold And Wild and a yearling colt by Redoute's Choice.
Long Time Ago becomes the 152nd stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud's hugely influential stallion Redoute's Choice who is serving his 18th book of mares at Arrowfield this spring at a fee of $137,500.
