Racing: Red Tracer takes aim at Epsom

Photo / Derek Flynn

Talented mare Red Tracer kicked off her spring campaign aimed at the Epsom Handicap on a winning note with victory in yesterday's Listed Toy Show Quality at Warwick Farm.

The four-year-old ended her autumn preparation with back-to-back Listed wins and showed she was on target for sterner tests this spring as she held off Group One winner Secret Admirer, who turned in a brilliant performance at her first start for almost 11 months.

Red Tracer ($1.90 fav) had a long neck to spare over the fast-finishing Secret Admirer ($8.50) at the end of the 1300m contest, with Jerezana ($9) two lengths away third.

"I did consider the Manikato Stakes [in Melbourne] with her but it's just too hard and I reckon we will just go through fillies and mares races towards the Epsom," Red Tracer's trainer Chris Waller said.

"She'll get in with a nice weight and she has won over 1400 metres on a wet track so she should get a mile [1600m].

"Today she was first-up over 1300 metres on a tough, testing track and it was her first time against the mares so it was a good effort."

While Waller was delighted with Red Tracer's winning return, connections of Secret Admirer were also looking forward to the spring full of optimism after the lightly-raced mare produced an eye-catching effort.

Secret Admirer missed the autumn through injury and the daughter of Dubawi was back second last in the run before powering to the line late.

The Warwick Stakes didn't pan out how Peter Snowden expected during the run but honest gelding Pinwheel still found a way to join his famous sire as a winner of the weight-for-age feature.

Pinwheel, the favourite took a fitness edge into yesterday's Group Two event at Warwick Farm and despite settling further back than expected, the son of Lonhro powered home 1 lengths ahead of Ilovethiscity with a nose to Startsmeup in third place.

Champion Lonhro won two Warwick Stakes in 2001 and 2003 and while Pinwheel will never match the deeds of his sire, Snowden was full of praise for the consistent sprinter who notched the biggest win of his career.

"What a pleasure to have in the stable," Snowden said.

"He's a really, really nice horse and very genuine."