Third in the Listed Calaway Stakes two starts back, lightly raced two-year-old Zousain filly Sweet Pretender produced the goods at Doomben, charging late to win the Mullins Lawyers QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1350m).
Trained at Toowoomba by William Kropp, Sweet Pretender commenced her career with a length second in the Pat O’Shea QTIS Two-Year-Old Plate, followed by a further two placed efforts before finishing six lengths off Hellbent filly Sunrays in the Listed Bill Carter Stakes (13500m).
Dropping back in class from her lateset effort, jockey Cejay Graham jumped away Sweet Pretender away swiftly from the gates before jockey Michael Rodd aboard Lee Freedman’s Provoker (Encryption) crossed the field to take up the running.
Eventually settling in fourth on the outside of On Point Pixie (Heroic Valour), Graham started to ask her filly for an effort just before the home turn as the leader appeared to have secured a cosy run in the lead.
As Mortal Halo (Better Than Ready) was chiming in and looked a serious chance, Sweet Pretender put in a dive in right on the line to nab Provoker. Mortal Halo was also working home at a solid rate of knots that he took second, with Prokover eventually third, while the unlucky favourite Hard As Brok (All Too Hard) came along the rail to finish fourth.
Having performed on soft going in the past, Kropp was confident heading into the race that she’d handle the surface.
“She's raced well on the soft tracks, so I was kind of hoping it stayed a bit soft,” stated Kropp. “Ultimately being handy and the rail being out, probably worked out of there.”
Having her first ride on the filly, Graham was positive abour the fight the filly showed late.
“It was nice to have her just a little bit more into the race today, but the good barrier afforded me to be able to do that,” enthused Graham post-race. “Always travelled well and was in for the fight late.”
“She got into a beautiful rhythm and relaxed really well throughout and she saved everything for the finish. She's only little, but I think she'll take good confidence from that.”
A graduate of KBL Thoroughbreds’ 2024 Magic Millions Capricornia Yearling Sale draft when purchased for just $6,000 by her trainer, the two-year-old filly has earned connections more than ten times her purchase price with plenty more to come.
The first winner from two to the races for Street Boss mare Onya Boss, who unfortunately passed away last year, the final foal from the mare is a daughter of Newgate Farm’s Cosmic Force who was withdrawn from the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale earlier this week.
One of seven individual stakes performers for Widden Stud’s Zousain, which is headed by dual Group 3 winner Drifting who was sold at last week’s Magic Millions national Broodmare Sale for $800,000, the son of Zoustar will stand for a fee of $27,500 (inc. GST).
