Thousand metre specialist Felines out sprinted her rivals to record a commanding win in the Group 3 $125,000 James Boag’s Premium Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick today.
Felines out sprints her rivals to win the Concorde Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Kris Lees trained Felines ($8.50) chalked up win number seven over the 1000m and left the rest of the field in her wake, including the $2.45 favourite Japonisme who failed to fire first and finished in sixth spot.
The John O’Shea trained Federal ($8) loomed up half way down the straight and looked likely to make a race of it but under hard riding from Jason Collett, Felines was able to find plenty and went on to score a comfortable one and a half lengths win.
Craftiness ($8.50) with Blake Shinn in the saddle fought on well in the straight after racing on the pace to wind up in third spot.
Queensland trained mare Hidden Pearl was well supported in the betting ring to start the second favourite at $3.60 bur after showing plenty of pace for apprentice Bridget Grylls to lead, faded in the straight to finish fifth.
Lees said that big drop in weight to 54kg helped Felines find her way back into the winner’s stall after finishing third at her last start in a 1000m BenchMark 85 Handicap carrying 60kg.
“Early in her preparation I just thought she was starting to lose her and I gave her a freshen up and got her back her to the 1000m and switched her straight back on,” Lees said.
“Down in the weights today in the better company she was terrific.”
“I thought she had them beaten then half way up the straight she is venerable but she rallied and found again. It was a really good effort.”
