The $175,000 Listed VRC TAB We’re On Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday always looked as though Home Affairs would play a big hand in the finish and that was the case with his flying fillies Gin Twist and La Gitana filling the quinella.
Both prepared by the Lindsay Park team, Gin Twist and La Gitana came into this race with Group placings at their previous starts and ran right up to that good form.
Gin Twist jumped straight to the front for Luke Currie and was in cruise control up the straight before letting down with a slick turn of foot to dash clear of La Gitana and win by two lengths.
They covered the 1000m in a slick 56.92 indicating a bright future for both fillies.
“She was sharp and dynamic today and jumped straight into the bridle and controlled it and we were never really going to get beaten,” said Luke Currie.
Gin Twist had not raced since January 24 when she ran third at her second start in the Group III MRC Blue Diamond Preview, but she did have a recent jumpout up the straight which proved beneficial.
The Hayes brothers saddled three fillies in the race by Home Affairs with Jacaranda coming to the race after a game fifth in the Inglis Millennium in Sydney, but she was not as comfortable dropping back to the shorter trip and finished behind the placegetters.
“It was a very impressive win. I got a bit worried when she got a bit hot in the mounting yard and got a bit worked up, but I think having a trial down the straight is very valuable,” said Ben Hayes.
“She jumped, she looked like she was comfortable the whole race, and she really went to the line quite easily. So it was great result for the Needham’s (part owners) as they're good supporters of us.
“We had a bit of pressure on us. Tom (Magnier, Coolmore) said to us, if we didn't get the trifecta with the Home Affairs fillies, we'd be in trouble. So sorry, Tom, we only got the quinella, I hope that's okay.
“I think it's just having a look down the straight. Two-year-olds find it very hard. They either get it totally wrong, and we saw that with Jacaranda today. She dropped the bit early and just didn't look comfortable. They just don't know how to get into a rhythm, where the other two were both professional, they jumped, travelled really well and gave good kicks.”
Gin Twist has banked $132,850 from her first three starts and the stable have plenty of options going forward.
“She did it really well and I think it's really exciting going forward. So we’ll have a good look at her and see how she pulls up,” Hayes added.
“We'll have a discussion with the whole team at Lindsay Park, and we'll work out where we go.”
Gin Twist was a $220,000 Magic Millions purchase from Newgate Farm for Lindsay Park Racing and was bred by Love Racing.
She is the third winner and first stakes-winner from four foals to race from stakes-winning Beneteau mare Twist Tops, who comes from the family of Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks winner Irish Darling.
Newgate sold a yearling full brother to Gin Twist at Magic Millions this year for $200,000 to Gao Sanxiong.
Gin Twist is the second stakes-winner for Home Affairs and is his first in Australia after Kinnaird won at Group II level in New Zealand.
Coolmore based Home Affairs is currently leading the Australian First Season Sires list by earnings.
