KEY POINTS:
Conventional thinking has always had Satinka as a sprinter.
Co-trainer Lance O'Sullivan has never agreed and was the least surprised that Satinka won yesterday's 1600m $125,000 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic.
And he will be even less surprised if the smart filly backs up and wins the 2000m $125,000 NZ Bloodstock Royal Stakes also at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.
Satinka worked to the line strongly for Awapuni jockey Bruce Herd after sitting three spots back on the rails to the home bend.
"Everyone has rated her a sprinter," said Lance O'Sullivan.
"Almost certainly because the instructions in the (1200m) Matamata Breeders Stakes were to lead at all costs.
"She won that sprint brilliantly, but she's never been just a sprinter."
O'Sullivan says Satinka is one of the quietest horses to work in his Matamata stable.
"She has never pulled, not even once, in her life."
Herd said that mid-race he had no worries that Satinka would see out the distance.
"What I was concerned about was getting a run from my place on the rails."
Herd couldn't believe his luck when the horses in front and the ones to beat, Insouciant and Keepa Cruisin, moved away from the inside on the home bend, leaving a big gap.
But it tightened up a bit as Satinka arrived.
"She's a big, strong filly," said a relieved Herd after Satinka fought off Keepa Cruisin then narrowly held out a later challenge from fellow Matamata filly Pretty Vegas.
"It's easy when you're on good horses."
At this level nothing is taken for granted but after Satinka's slightly unlucky third in the group one Levin Classic, O'Sullivan had expectations yesterday.
"She probably should have been second last start and we'd have been disappointed if she hadn't been first or second this time.
"There's not much between these top three or four fillies and the barrier draw [No 1 yesterday] and the right run decides these races."
Warm favourite Insouciant had a perfect trail, pulled out on the corner and was beaten soon after, finishing 4.4 lengths away in eighth place.
"She didn't cop the right-handed track," said Michael Walker.
Keepa Cruisin, beaten a neck and a long neck, might have been a victim of a clever ride by her jockey Leith Innes.
Keepa Cruisin was one out and one back approaching the home bend and Innes moved up wide outside the leaders in an attempt to keep Insouciant in a pocket behind the leader.
Unfortunately the moment he moved, Insouciant found an out behind the leader and Keepa Cruisin was already three and four wide.
"Disappointed," said trainer Steve McKee.
Run Roxy Run did well to be only 1.5 lengths off the winner.
