New Zealand Bloodstock graduate Pondalowie produced a stunning late burst to claim the Group II Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Sent out a $51 outsider, the Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained mare was ridden patiently by Lachlan Neindorf and appeared to have little chance when still buried away approaching the 200m.
Once Neindorf found clear air, Pondalowie unleashed her customary turn of foot, charging through late to defeat Too Darn Discreet by a short half-head, with On Display another half-head away in third.
David Browne admitted he had all but conceded defeat when Pondalowie remained pocketed inside the final 200m.
“I thought, ‘we’re no hope there’,” Browne said.
“Early in the race, I thought we were a bit of a hope because the favourite got caught wide and deep and did enough work, but then we were pocketed so bad, I thought, ‘we’ll get home good when it gets out’.
“I wasn't expecting her to do that. She has promised it for a long time, but I can’t believe she's delivered.”
The victory was Pondalowie's first at stakes level, having previously finished runner-up in the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield, and took her record to four wins from 22 starts and A$394,275 in prizemoney.
Browne said allowing the daughter of Deep Field to settle and conserve her energy had been important.
“When she gets along on the speed and she runs along, she just doesn't breathe as good,” he said.
“When she's actually jammed behind like that and gets the first half right, she gets enough air to finish it off strong enough.
“She can gallop and sprint like a horse we’ve never had and today she showed it.”
The Browne’s purchased Pondalowie as a yearling at the Karaka Book 1 Sale for $150,000 from the draft of Prima Park. She was a pinhook winner having been sourced from the Newgate Farm draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $90,000 by Prima Park/Bevan Smith Bloodstock.
Bred by Alan Bell, Pondalowie is the 45th stakes-winner for the late Champion HK Sire Deep Field and is the best of four winners from four to race from Glorious Red, a winning Red Element grand-daughter of stakes-winner Khaptrist.
– NZ Racing Desk
