This
time last year talented Sebring filly Believe Yourself was about to shoot to prominence
winning the Group II ATC Sweet Embrace Stakes before finishing fourth to
Mossfun in the Golden Slipper, but 12 months on she finds herself in Singapore
and recorded her first win at Kranji on Friday.
Unsuccessful when making her Singapore debut in November, the Hideyuki Takaoka
prepared filly improved out of sight for her second appearance, flying across
from a wide draw to sit on the speed and then drawing clear to win the 1200
metre contest by more than two lengths.
"Seriously, I really thought she could win tonight as she has really matured in
the last weeks and she was quite fit for this race," said Hideyuki Takaoka
"She dropped 11 kilos and was down to 446 kilos, which is probably her ideal
racing weight.
"I told Alan [Munro] to ride her positive from the wide gate as I didn't want
her to be caught wide, but she was faster than I thought. Actually she did show
some speed at a barrier trial before, so I wasn't all that surprised she jumped
so well."
Her rider was also impressed with her effort.
"We were supposed to sit in fifth or sixth but she flew like a rocket at the
start. She travelled relaxed outside the leader and when I gave her a dig she
kicked strongly," he said.
"She did stop around the 300 metres, but she took off again like a good thing.
She's a very smart filly."
A $140,000 purchase from the Turangga Farm draft, Believe Yourself was the
highest priced filly at the 2013 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and third highest
priced overall.
Bred by Stuart Ramsey's Turangga Farm, Believe Yourself runs for Singapore
based Japanese owner Mr Tomohiro Sekiguchi and has proven a good investment
winning three of six starts.
She is the first winner for unraced Private, a half-sister by Encosta de Lago
to Group III winner Tully Dane and stakes-winner Mygoodgrace from the family of
Group I winners Daffodil and Good Faith.
Private has a yearling colt by Sebring that has been entered for Inglis Easter
by Turangga Farm and was one of 192 mares covered by Sebring last year at
Widden Stud.