Statuesque three-year-old filly Loose Sally once again showed her liking for tracks with plenty of give in them as she monstered her rivals in the home straight to claim victory in Saturday’s Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton.
Trainer Shankar Muniandy brought her north from his Wingatui base for her second crack at a Riccarton three-year-old fillies feature after she finished an unlucky fifth in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) a fortnight earlier where she flew home after meeting trouble early in the straight that day.
Muniandy’s brother Ruvanesh took the mount again and made sure he had nothing but clear air this time around as he got her rolling into contention at the 800m and up outside the leaders turning for home.
Loose Sally powered to the front and although inclined to wander around a little in the final stages on the Heavy 10 surface, she held on comfortably to defeat Sight To See and The Boss Lady who charged at her late in the piece.
“She is a big filly and the 2000m today was exactly what she needed,” an elated Shankar Muniandy said.
“That was her last run for this prep as she will go to the paddock and we will look after her.
“She has come such a long way in her six starts, winning three of them and picking up some valuable black type in nice races like the one today.
“I think with some more time on her you will see a very good stayer in the making.”
Muniandy admitted he had sat down with his brother during the day to discuss how the earlier races had unfolded and how he felt the filly should be positioned if possible.
“She needs a clear run like she got today so we had a good chat all morning to see where we would ride her and where I would like her to be in the running.
“Ruvanesh followed those instructions to the letter and I knew when she had clear air moving around them we would be very hard to beat.
“It is very exciting to have such a nice horse in the stable and I ‘m looking forward to tackling bigger and better things with her next time in.”
Raced by Ray Chalklin, Loose Sally is by Windsor Park Stud stallion Turn Me Loose and is out of the race-winning mare Sally’s Mustang.
She has won three of her six starts and over $203,000 in prizemoney.
Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
