Talented three-year-old Rezoned has justified her favouritism amongst punters and racing fans at South Australia’s Morphettville Racecourse this afternoon, producing an impressive final straight sprint to overcome poor running position and stroll home in the Group 3 SA Fillies Classic (2500m).
Rezoned justified her favouritism to win the SA Fillies Classic at Morphettville. Photo by Jenny Barnes
Raring up in the gates prior to jumping, Rezoned was forced to settle well and truly back in the field, blocked for a clear racing line and forced three wide rounding onto the back straight.
Maintaining similar position throughout, the Zabeel filly sat more than 10 lengths off the pace of early leaders Too Cool To Fool, Savannah Moon and Falamonte, who set a reasonable pace.
Rounding onto the final straight in terrible position, jockey Mark Zahra quickly led Rezoned to a large gap along the rails, comfortably reaching the leaders and taking up the pace 200 metres from home; maintaining to the line to finish more than two lengths in the clear.
Stable representative of trainer Robert Smerdon, Stuart Webb was understandably thrilled with Rezoned’s performance in the 2014 SA Fillies Classic and was fast to lay the praise of in-form jockey Zahra.
“To have a Zabeel filly win a Group race adds a lot of value to her and a really good effort after having no luck two weeks ago” Webb said immediately after the SA Fillies Classic.
“Mark gave her a great ride; peeled off the fence late and was probably never going to get beaten.
Having now contested eight races for two wins this preparation; Webb confirmed a return to the spelling paddock for the filly out of Better Alternative ahead of a bus6 2014 Spring Racing Canrival.
“That will do her now” Webb added.
Producing an equally impressive turn of foot in the final straight, Navajo Run poked a short nose clear to beat Every Faith in a photo finish for second place.
Claiming one in and two places from a total of nine starts so far, Navajo Run is a likely contestant over the 2014 Brisbane Winter Carnival, with an appearance in the Group 2 Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) a definite possibility.
Unlucky not to deliver trainer Smerdon a quinella in the 2014 SA Fillies Classic, Every Faith found ideal position on the heels of the leaders rounding onto the final straight, but was unable to sustain a strong enough sprint to hold on for second.
