Racing: Filly springs huge surprise

Photo / Richard Robinson

Obsequious produced the first major surprise of the new racing season as she swept aside odds-on favourite Solar Charged to claim the Group Three San Domenico Stakes at Randwick yesterday.

In a spring pipe-opener for 3-year-olds expected to be dominated by the A$1.85 hot-pot Solar Charged and Golden Slipper runner-up Decision Time, it was the lightly-weighted Peter Snowden filly who provided racing superpower Darley with its first win in the 1000m feature.

"I'm not going to say the trainer wasn't confident but it will be a nice surprise," Darley Australia's general manager Henry Plumptree said.

Stable foreman Brad Widdup said Snowden, who was at Flemington, was concerned the state of the Randwick track might count against her chances.

Sitting a length off Solar Charged, Obsequious drove underneath her rival as they swung for home and the daughter of Lonhro soon gained control for jockey Tim Clark before going on to beat the favourite by a length.

Decision Time was the first of the males home, finishing a further 2 lengths in arrears.

The first three placegetters were having their first starts since competing in the Golden Slipper in April.

Clark said the winning margin could have been greater if he had urged Obsequious along sooner.

Obsequious is nominated for the Golden Rose on August 28 but her next run will be in the Silver Shadow Stakes.

- AAP