There will be few gamer performances by a two-year-old this season than that of Godolphin's Lonhro filly Pin Sec who kick-started her career with a last stride win in an 1100 metre maiden at Randwick on Boxing Day.
The stylish near-black filly was caught out on a limb from a wide barrier. As Adam Hyeronimus searched to get some cover on Pin Sec, she was pushed out wider again as horses pushed up underneath her and she was required to race four and five wide the trip.
She made a charge in the straight, but it looked as if her torrid trip had taken its toll as the visiting English jockey Tom Marquand drove Shadwell Stud's newcomer Hafaawa (Redoute's Choice) to the lead close to home.
But Pin Sec raised another effort and had a short-half-head advantage on the line with Star Thoroughbred's Olympic (Medaglia d'Oro) finishing on strongly for third.
"It was a very pleasing win. She probably could have jumped and been in the first three or four, but (trainer) James (Cummings) likes to get them to travel comfortably and hit the line," Godolphin representative Darren Beadman said.
"She overcame adversity a couple of times through the run. I thought she was going to get a little bit of cover but Bacchus kept edging her off the track.
"She's very well educated, a lovely scopey filly with a great attitude that has stood her in good stead today.
"There will be bigger things in stall for her. She had to cop a couple of bumps and the way she knuckled down and got after the leader was very rewarding."
Pin Sec is the second foal of the top-class Commands filly Moderate who won four of her five starts including the Listed VRC Lexus Hybrid Plate at what proved to be her career swansong.
The first foal of Moderate is Pin Sec's brother Restrained who has won his only two starts, the latest over 1200 metres at Newcastle on November 3.
Not covered in 2016, Moderate foaled a Street Boss (USA) filly on September 16.
Pin Sec is the second two-year-old daughter of Lonhro to impress on debut this month.
Back on December 1, Athiri made a brilliant debut with a two-length win at Rosehill.
