Lance O'Sullivan was not concentrating just on restarting his career at Taupo yesterday, class came into the equation.
And he found it in his second winner, Chimeara.
The royally-bred Danehill-Tristalove filly was bought out of a Coolmore Stud paddock by Peter and Philip Vela for a figure understood to be around three quarters of a million dollars.
There have been days when the purchase price of every horse racing at Taupo would have come in under that.
"She's pretty good," O'Sullivan said after Chimeara's easy win.
Trainer Sheila Laxon admits the pressure came off with the win. The filly beat only one runner home after starting favourite in her Hastings debut, which Laxon attributes to the track conditions being softer than she had expected.
"I can't tell you how pleased I am that's over with," said a relieved Laxon after O'Sullivan had unsaddled the filly.
A couple of factors made the win a bit special.
Chimeara was forced to sit three wide around the leaders after starting from a wide barrier and she looked to come off the bit rounding the home turn.
When O'Sullivan gave the filly a slap she suddenly found three lengths - something only very good horses can manage.
She dashed clear and easily beat what was a smart maiden field in a slick 1200m time of 1.11.2.
Chimeara will follow the 3-year-old fillies' series starting with the $40,000 Highview Stakes at Hastings on September 16.
"She's a big filly so there is scope for her to improve yet," said Laxon.
Fittingly, Lance O'Sullivan scored in his first ride back after his lengthy lay-off and, just as fittingly, brother Paul provided it. Gem Dancer, a first-start Faltaat filly, proved her trials form to be right on the money.
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Kiwis are not the only ones believing Sunline is a good thing to make it back-to-back Cox Plates. Aussie bookmakers agree.
If you want to back Sunline pre-post, you will have to cop a low 3-1 ($4).
"It's daylight to the rest of the market," said Double Bet's Melbourne manager Brian Taylor.
"She was super impressive on Saturday and there has got to be some improvement in her."
Tie The Knot is second favourite at 8-1 followed by Hire at 10-1 and on 14-1 are Assertive Lad, Might And Power, Sky Heights and European star Fantastic Light.
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The Hastings track remains firm and is expected to stay that way for the meeting on Saturday.
"No sign of rain being forecast at all," said Hawkes Bay racing manager John McGifford yesterday.
"The track is 2.3 and firm and while it won't get any better than that, it won't get worse."
Racing: Huge relief as Chimeara atones for costly debut
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