In Her Time clocks its rivals to claim the Breeders Classic
IN Her Time has handed young trainer Benjamin Smith the biggest win of his burgeoning race career after the mare survived a late challenge from Egyptian Symbol to record a brilliant victory in the Group 2 Breeders Classic.
The four-year-old slid just outside the leader at the 800 metre mark and kicked away past the turn, but never truly gapped the field, leaving room for the race favourite to range up and move past it.
The Smith-trained mare was not to be denied however, digging in to record its third straight win at the $16 quote via Sportsbet.com.au ahead of Egyptian Symbol ($1.40 at WilliamHill.com.au) and the fast finishing Flippant, which returned $2.10 at Crownbet.com.au.
In Her Time was the favourite when the market first opened earlier in the week, but drifted as the race drew closer. Smith was confident his horse was ready to go.
“She’s got great determination,” trainer Benjamin Smith said.
“I told (Jockey Andrew Atkins) ‘don’t be afraid if she’s stuck three wide, she just needs room, and if you give her room you’ll see the best of her.”
The trainer, who has had to do it the hard way over the course of his six-year training career said he could not watch the concluding stages of the race.
“Stopped watching … I turned away.” The trainer confessed as race favourite Egyptian Symbol aimed to level up alongside In Her Time.
The trainer said he only looked back when he ‘saw the owners cheering’.
The on-the-rise Smith claimed his first group success on Saturday, and jockey Andrew Atkins was full of praise for the trainer’s attitude.
“There’s no one that deserves it more than the trainer himself,” Atkins said of Smith.
“He’s done a terrific job with her, he’s stuck by her … he’s done all the hard yards to get her here she’s performed today in great class and attacked the line really well.”
“She ran away with a really terrific win.”