Quality mare In Her Time was able to claim her first Group 1 victory with a tough win in the $700,000 The PFD Food Services Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill today.
The Ben Smith trained In Her Time was overdue for a breakthrough win at the top level after filling Group 1 minor placings on three previous occasions and also provided the Newcastle trainer with his first taste of Group 1 success.
In Her Time was sent out as the $4 favourite and Hong Kong based jockey Zac Purton gave the mare a lovely run just behind the leading division.
Purton presented In Her Time to make her move in the early part of the straight and the five year old mare sprinted quickly to secure her first Group 1 win.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained mare English ($16) settled in her customary position near the tail of the field and stormed home to gain second with Viridine ($4.20) also making up ground to fill third spot.
“She’s deserved to win a Group 1 and now she’s finally got it, so I’m very happy for Ben and connections, obviously Ben’s grandmother as well,” Purton said.
“She began really well so I was able to come across and just slot in nicely behind the speed, they kept the hammer down from the half-mile to the 400m, I just had to come out and roll into it as I felt comfortable to do so.”
“She got there pretty easy and just wandered a bit late, it was a good effort.”
In Her Time was having her first run back since running second to Hey Doc in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley in October last year.
In Her Times’s other Group 1 placings were at Doomben during the 2017 Brisbane Winter Carnival with a second to Impending in the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) followed by a third in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m).