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In-form trainer Ron Quinton got punters off to the right note , after talented mare Peeping made a winning return in the opening event at Rosehill.
The well-bred stakes winner was resuming after the autumn and she was well supported as the $1.80 favourite with her weight of 54.5kg giving her 2kg over Woodbine and 4.5kg over top-weight and former Group 1 Crown Oaks winner Kirramosa (NZ).
The four-year-old mare’s supporters were given some pause for concern though as Howmuchdoyouloveme (carried 57kg) and apprentice Samantha Clenton went out to a good 2L lead with Decision Time (carried 57kg) and apprentice Koby Jennings camped outside.
Peeping was on the rails with Woodbine and Blake Shinn outside and they commenced a forward move with 500m to run.
Woodbine could not go on with it and it was left to Peeping to haul back the leaders by herself and Clipperton set her off down the middle of the track.
Howmuchdoyouloveme continued with a decent lead with 200m to run and the task for Peeping, even with the weight advantage, looked to be difficult at best. Then she really extended and the gap closed quickly and in the last stride she was past Howmuchdoyouloveme racing on the rail. The margin was a long head.
Howmuchdoyouloveme (Written Tycoon) was 1L ahead of Kristy Lee (Encosta de Lago) (57kg) and Tye Angland for third.
The time was a smart 1.09.89 on the Good 4 rated track with the final 600m In 33.95. The track was upgraded after the race to a Good 3 for the balance of the programme.
“We will maybe only give her a light spring looking to next autumn, but we will take each step at a time,” said Quinton.
“We do not have any firm plans for her at the moment, but it is just lovely that she has come back and got the job done.
“We will go for a fillies and mares race and I am very proud of her,” he said.
“I was very pleased, it was a big effort. Howmuchdoyouloveme obviously improved dramatically back on a firmer surface and gave a huge sight,” said Clipperton.
“I was a bit concerned at the furlong (200m) but when she really wound up over the last 100m. She pinned her ears and she won quite impressively.
“The track feels good. It is great that we have had that bit of nice weather and it is has given all the tracks a chance to dry out. It is good to be back on a firm surface,” he said.
Peeping, by Redoute’s Choice out of the Encosta de Lago mare Miss Marielle, has now won four of her eight starts and with three placings she has earned stakes of $230,985 for the Kelly family’s Suffolk Vale & Co.
After the race the Chris Waller trained Kermadec (NZ) had an exhibition gallop under Tye Angland. They covered 1000m in 62.8 and the final 600m in 35.25 with the gallop to the line strong, but under a hold by Angland.
The 2015 Group 1 Doncaster Mile winner will resume in the $250,000, Group 2 WFA Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
