Showcasing filly Xpression made a winning return to the track at Taupo on Wednesday when taking out the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1100m).
The
last-start Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) winner was handled patiently
by jockey Sam Collett, sitting off the pace at the rear of the field for the
majority of the race after jumping away fairly.
Last season's premiership-winning jockey pulled Xpression wide on the turn, with the Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained three-year-old letting down strongly over the closing stages to win by a long head over stakes winner Santa Catarina, with a further half-length back to stablemate Mohaka.
"It was a nice win," Lowry said. "She's been off the scene for nine months and she's been given plenty of time and seems to have got to the line okay."
Lowry cited maturity issues and poor track conditions as reasons behind Xpression's (image Race Images) absence from the track.
"There were just a few maturity problems and we didn't push her," he said. "I wasn't that keen to go to Ellerslie or Awapuni the way the tracks were at the time. We have just given her time and she is coming up okay.
"I think we'll head to the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) as long as she pulls up okay. I think she is better on top of the ground."
Meanwhile, Lowry was happy with the stable's other runner Mohaka, who ran on for third on debut.
"She is a nice filly and she's very willing." – NZ Racing Desk
