One of three runners in the event from the Cambridge stable of Stephen Marsh for Albert Bosma and his Go Racing syndicates, the nuggety Darci Brahma filly upset her more fancied rivals at odds of better than $26 as she belied her inexperience with a thoroughly professional performance to claim the win.
Settled towards the rear as pacemakers Unsurpassed and Thwayya set a solid
speed up front, No More Tears was still a conservative seven lengths from the
lead as the field swung for home. Rider Michael Coleman didn't panic and balanced his mount up before producing an irresistible burst through the middle of the pack to hit the front in the shadows of the post and race away to win in a smart 1m 03.49s for the journey.
Pacemaker Unsurpassed tried her hardest to give trainer Jason Bridgman a victory on his last day in charge of the Te Akau Racing team but had to settle for a gutsy second. Thwayya also battled on nicely to shade Miss Wilson for third with race favourite The Justice League fifth after sitting wide all the way from an outside barrier.
Trainer Stephen Marsh was understandably delighted after the race given it had been a last minute decision to nominate for the event.
"She was scheduled to start in the two-year-old race at Avondale last Monday but we missed out when the meeting was abandoned," he explained.
"Albert and I had a think about what to do next as we weren't sure she would get a run here given she was a first starter. We decided to have a go for the black type if she could make the field knowing she could always go back to Avondale next week if she missed out."
Once safely in the field Marsh was still unsure of how the filly would perform despite having shown plenty during her two trial performances.
"There were a number in the race who had big reputations so we weren't overly confident although I did think she wouldn't be far away," he said.
"She was always going to get back from her draw but that last 200 metres was superb as she really powered home which indicates she won't mind a little further next season."
Marsh will now sit down with Bosma to determine the filly's immediate future although he is leaning towards sending her to the spelling paddock before setting her on a path towards the Gr. 1 1000 Guineas in the spring.
No More Tears is owned by the Go Racing Don't Cry Syndicate with Bosma securing the filly for $75,000 from the Ardsley Stud draft during the Select session of the 2014 National Yearling Sale Series. - NZ Racing Desk
