Konasana relishes heavy conditions in H B Carr Stakes
Chris Waller & Regan Bayliss have combined with Konasana (+1800) to claim victory in the Group 3 H B Carr Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon.
The Dundeel filly relished the bottomless conditions, with the track being downgraded to a Heavy 9 prior to the jump, breaking clear of her rivals to score by 3.7 lengths.
The field of 11 were bunched together for much of the 1400m journey, with the Brad Widdup-trained Hasty Honey (+3300) forced to take up the running.
Tim Clark wasn’t happy with the tempo aboard Pajanti (+2500) and swung around the field on a three-wide line, eventually taking on the lead in the middle stages, while the well-backed New Zealand import Scarlett Oak (+380) was smoking the pipe behind the leading pair.
Scarlett Oak hit a gap and looked to be travelling best under Zac Lloyd before the stablemate loomed large to career away with the prize.
It was a dominant victory, with many of her rivals unable to handle the testing conditions, with significant margins back to the minor money.
2024 Group 3 H B Carr Stakes Replay – Konasana
Chris Waller was on course to discuss the victory and questioned whether Konasana would eventually return to a staying journey.
“She had some good form in the spring,” said Waller.
“We were aiming for the Oaks and she didn’t stay. So her shorter distance form was good. And she’s backed it up today. She doesn’t mind a wet track, obviously.
“Obviously winning these types of races are important. She’s not up the top level, but my job, or our job, is to try and keep her now at this level and try and get her a little bit better as well.”
Regan Bayliss was impressed with the victory and thinks a staying trip shouldn’t be a problem moving forward.
“She’s a pretty good filly,” said Bayliss.
“In the spring she had form out over a trip around the likes of Autumn Angel.
“Today she got into a beautiful rhythm and it was all about getting through the ground and she swum through it, savaging the line.
“She’ll only get better as she gets out over more ground.”