Quang Tri takes out the Taj Rossi Final at Flemington
She’s just a two-year-old filly who was carrying 56kg after being pushed wide early in a Black Type feature race.
But Quang Tri put all those obstacles aside to salute in the Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington on Saturday.
She did it with class, Billy Egan piloting her to a one-length win after hitting the front inside the last 100m over the mile distance.
It was the second time in three years Egan and trainer Patrick Payne have combined to win this event after Cherry Tortoni saluted in the 2020 version, the two teaming up to enjoy plenty of recent success.
And Egan’s nous shone under pressure once again, moving up to get himself three wide with cover and in a good spot to pounce late on the straight.
Quang Tri took care of business from there, showing good endurance to emerge at the front of the pack and comfortably hold King’s Consort, for Anthony and Sam Freedman, in second place.
Magnaspin started to fall away at the 150m, before finishing third for Leon and Troy Corstens.
2022 Taj Rossi Final Replay
Prime Thoroughbreds syndicator Joe O’Neill is excited at what Quang Tri can achieve in the future because she already has a high level of maturity for a two-year-old filly.
“We were lucky to get her for what we paid for her. But I think that she can become a very, very good three-year-old,” he told Racing.com.
“We’ll talk to Patty and see what we do with her, but we get these good fillies every year.
“There are a couple more coming through the system, so watch out for the Prime team – we’re here to stay.”
Quang Tri’s half-length win as the $2.35 favourite with online bookmakers in the Elvstroem Classic over 1300m at Swan Hill on June 10 proved to be the perfect performance gauge heading into today’s Listed feature.
“It’s a great race, isn’t it? It’s been a great race over the years, and a great form race,” O’Neill said.
“She beat the boys here today. She had to carry the weight today and Billy Egan was caught three wide but didn’t panic.
“He just let her relax and got her into a rhythm, and in the run home I always thought she’d run over the top of them.
“We’ve got a high opinion of her, which we’ve had from day one. And the first time Patty rode her he said ‘gee, she feels good’.
“I always get a feeling when Patty keeps riding a horse back at the farm that we might have something special.”