Progressive filly In A Wink produced the best performance of her career to date to deliver local Greg Bennett an emotional victory in the 2015 Denise’s Joy Stakes at Scone this afternoon.

In A Wink scored a popular win with the locals in the 2015 Denise’s Joy Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

In A Winx was given a sensational ride by jockey Brenton Avdulla and the leading hoop settled the Ready As filly just behind the speed in the early stages of the race before she responded well when she found clear running at the top of the straight.

Fine Mist flew home down the outside in the final stages of the race and produce some impressive closing sectionals, but In A Wink was able to hold off her rival and bounce back to her best form after she failed to fire in the Country Championships Wildcard Event at Muswellbrook on March 29.

Bennett had not had a winner during the Scone Cup Carnival for a number of years and the passionate trainer was clearly thrilled to have record the second stakes win of his career and significantly enhanced the value of In A Wink for owner and breeder Errol Leicht.

“It has been a couple of years since we have been here in the winners circle, but if you don’t turn up and try then you are no hope,” Bennett said.

“A few people said to me ‘why are you coming back in distance, why are you doing this and why are you doing that’ and sometimes I ask myself those questions, but she has always had a lot of ability this filly.

“She is a homebred with Tamworth owners and it is a good result for the country.

“I am very pleased.

“She is a stakes winner now and she is worth a lot more money to him now than she was before.

“Her father was a More Than Ready horse called Ready As from Tamworth and he is no superstar stallion, but credit to him and I am so pleased for Earl and all my staff because they have worked so hard with this filly.

“They looked after her for three weeks while I was away in America and did the whole Championship thing on their own, so credit to them.

“I am just glad for Scone, my staff and everybody involved in this whole Carnival.”

Gai Waterhouse-trained Donelle was easily the best-backed runner in the lead-up to the Denise’s Joy Stakes, but she was unable to respond when asked for an extra effort by jockey Tim Clark and she was one of the first horses beaten.