IRONHORSE Too Chic booked her spot in the Mitavite Stayers Series final with a dominant five-length win at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
Local trainer Wade Slinkard lined Too Chic up for her 10th start this preparation and she continues to race better each time she’s asked to run over more ground.
“I spoke to my vet and he said ‘while they’re in the right frame of mind keep them going’ and she’s a mare so we have,” Slinkard said.
Jockey Tommy Berry settled the $3.70 favourite near the rear of the field in the 2100-metre event, but got busy on the Haradasun mare at the 600 metres.
Berry was travelling so well on Too Chic he swung her out six and seven deep and rounded the field approaching the home turn before letting her down to record an easy win.
“You can do that here at Hawkesbury,’’ Berry said.’’ It’s very hard to come from behind sometimes and you can’t be too far away on the corner. When the track’s soft it always does cut out a bit on the inside, so I was happy to be wide.
“They were starting to fall back in my face and I just wanted to keep her comfortable and keep her momentum up.’’
Since stating her campaign in May on a heavy Mudgee track over 1200 metres, the four-year-old’s results have improved the further she went and Berry had no doubts she’ll get the 2300 metres of the stayers series final.
“It was a great win again by this horse. I said to Wade last start when he won not to be afraid to put her over more ground because she’s gutsy,” he said.
“We were last one on the bit and she might have a bit of a future.”
Slinkard was full of praise for the horse’s application, but wasn’t too sure if she will line up in the final, which will be run on Oaks Day this spring.
“Anyone could train her, to be honest,” he said.
“When you get honest horses like her she deserves everything she gets. She never does a thing wrong in the stable and she’s just a treat.
“Whether we give her a few weeks off then try and run her in the final, I’m not sure.”
