English returns to form with Group 2 Challenge Stakes win
IT was a disappointing spring carnival for English, but the four-year-old mare kick started the autumn in fine style with a win in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
The Waterhouse/Bott-trained mare by Encosta de Lago was the +320 favourite at CrownBet coming into the race, but it was $3.20 throughout the week and the confidence on track wasn’t evident.
But, despite racing on unsuitable track conditions, English was able to pick up runs along the inside before winning jockey Blake Shinn shifted it to the outside where it would battle with Redzel all the way to the line.
“She had to fight hard. The 1000m speed was just a little bit fast for her, she was out of her comfort zone the whole way, especially in that testing ground,” Shinn said.
“I had to ask her to extend from about the 500m. She was going to win comfortably at the 300m but she was always going to be vulnerable and Redzel is a hard horse to get past.
“Great effort and very well prepared by Gai and Adrian.”
English was fresh up after what can only be described as a poor spring carnival. The highly-touted mare came into the 2016 carnival having won the Group 1 All Aged Stakes, but a poor showing first up in The Shorts indicated that it wasn’t enjoying life as a mature mare.
That problem looks to be behind it now and co-trainer Adrian Bott is positive that it has come back a more impressive type.
“She’s back,” Bott said. “She’s a different mare this preparation and it’s great to see her do that today.
“We can’t really pinpoint anything (last prep), her whole demeanour this preparation shows she is back in great shape.”
Bott did have some concerns about the heavy track for English, which will likely target The Galaxy at Rosehill on March 18.
“It was a good, tough effort. We were a little concern with the ground going into it as it was something of an unknown,” Bott said.
“She was out on her feet there at the 100m but to her credit she showed what a tough filly she is, she really fought and fought hard.”
Redzel lost no admirers in finishing second after looking likely to sling-shot English halfway down the straight.
“Really good effort, he handled that ground and it took a good mare to beat him,” jockey Kerrin McEvoy said.
“He was very brave in defeat, he was coming back at her on the line.”