Drop in grade proves vital for Flemington winner Navagio
THREE-year-old filly Navagio found life tough in the Red Roses last start when finishing 14th, but after a break in the paddock the talented Zacinto filly returned in style.
The Colin Little-trained runner was a winner in maiden grade at Sale before taking on the likes of Spright at Flemington last start and the drop in grade proved vital as the $13 chance at Sportsbet stormed down the outside to score an impressive victory.
New Zealand jockey Michael Dee settled Navagio near the tail of the field in the Doriemus 3YO Handicap, but it was able to reel in race-favourite and Lexus Hybrid winner Jennifer Lynn in the closing stages.
“She trialled up very well leading into this. The key today was to get her to relax and we got the cover that we needed to do so,” Dee said.
“I just got the cover that I needed and she came down the outside with a big sprint and there’s still improvement in her.
“Colin sent her here today with still something in hand, so hopefully off to bigger and better things.”
Stable representative Matthew Lindsay was expecting a solid effort against some good sprinting types, but was a little surprised by the result.
“She’s a really nice filly, it was a little bit unexpected,” Lindsay said.
“We had the plan to get over a bit of ground later in the preparation so we were going to cuddle her up behind the speed. I thought they would be a little speedy for her today, but she ran over the top of them.
“That’s a bonus.”
Lindsay said its form has been good around some talented thoroughbreds and the plan is to target some black type with the filly.
“She’s got form around some good horses,” Lindsay said. “She has some form around Wazzenme, which held its own in the spring, so we will probably try slot in some black type somewhere.
“We do have the plan to go over the mile or further.”
Co-owner Rod Fitzroy has had a long association with trainer Colin Little and he believes the three-year-old will only get better with more ground.
“Yes, it goes back longer than we both probably want to remember,” Fitzroy said about his relationship with Little.
“Colin bought her at the New Zealand Sales, by a Dansili sire Zacinto, and we think they’ll get over more ground.
“That’s Colin’s plan… to go 1200m to 1400m at her next two starts and see hwat she can do.”
Jennifer Lynn was the $2.60 favourite at Palmerbet.com.au and punters would have been surprised to see the filly settle on the speed.
The quality daughter of High Chaparral has a great turn-of-foot which wasn’t fully utilised by jockey Brad Rawiller.
Unique Lovely resumed with a good run for third at place odds of $4.90.