A Godolphin castoff, Pecans has proven to be an inspired purchase by Tricolours Syndications with three wins and two seconds in five starts, culminating with her victory in Thursday's $150,000 Group III Gosford RSL Club Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).
Purchased at the Inglis August Thoroughbred Sale for $50,000, Pecans had just a solitary win, a maiden at Newcastle at her first, on her CV. But she had been runner-up in the three starts before her sale, so Joe Pride had something to work with straight away.
Just over a fortnight after her sale, Pecans finished second at Canterbury on November 1 before reeling off wins at Gosford and Warwick Farm.
The daughter of Skilled (pictured ) prepped for the Belle Of The Turf Stakes with a luckless second at Warwick Farm five days previously.
The story of the Belle Of The Turf was told at the start when the favourite Sedanzer was slow to begin for Rachel King and was eased back to last.
Meanwhile, Pecans was tracking the pace set by Positive Problems. Niggled along by Corey Brown, Pecans took the lead at the 250 metres but was all out holding the barnstorming finish of Sedanzer (Sebring) by a half-neck with Positive Problems (Sebring) hanging on for third a further three and a quarter length further back.
"Corey rode her well and held off a horse that is very much in form at the moment," Pride said.
"She's going really well and we are very happy with her. That's five runs for the prep with three wins and two seconds. She'll have a little break now, she's earned that.
"We've had good support from Tricolours and there's a good set of owners here and it's a pleasure to come to Gosford and win a feature race".
A half-sister to the Listed MRC Merson Cooper Stakes winner Secession (Lonhro) and the stakes-placed Purdy (Lonhro), Pecans descends from a family that served Woodlands well for many decades.
Pecans is the 11th and final foal of Walnut who died in 2013. The daughter of Procul Harum was a stakes-winning half-sister to the dam of Listed Stakes winner Finishing Card (Platinum Scissors).
Pecans becomes the first stakes winner for the 2010 Group 1 AJC Champagne Stakes hero Skilled (Commands.
The brother to Cornerstone Stud Farm's Ambidexter and half-brother to Darley Stud's Sidestep (Exceed And Excel), Skilled stood at Riverbank Farm in 2017 at a fee of $3,300.
