Consistent mare In Her Time put in her claims for a slot in $10m The Everest with a gutsy win in the Group 2 $500,000 Santos Coffee Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick today.

In Her Time, above in yellow and black colours, holds off the fast finishing English to win the Premiere Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Ben Smith trained In Her Time was having her first run back since running third to Tycoon Tara in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m) at Doomben on June 24 and showed that she would not be out of pace to fill one of the remaining slots in the $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14

Smith said that he would be open to offers to fill a slot in The Everest if they arrived but will enjoy today’s win first.

“We will just let the dust settle first,” Smith said.

“We will just see what happens. Nothing might happen and we will go to Melbourne, something might happen and we will stay here.”

“It is a big carrot to dangle, $10 million. We will let the dust settle and go from there.”

Winning jockey Corey Brown settled In Her Time ($4.80) on the back of the leaders and once heads were turned for home, he let the mare open up and she was able to hold off the fast finishing English ($5.50) with Clearly Innocent ($8.50) doing his best work over the concluding stages to fill third spot.

“My heart was in my mouth all the way down the straight, but good to see her get the job done,” Smith said.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained English is already a confirmed runner for The Everest and didn’t do her chances any harm while today’s $2.80 favourite and The Everest favourite Chautauqua was also winding up over the last 100m after settling in his usual spot at the tail of the field to finish sixth, two and three quarter lengths from the winner.