The long drive towing a horse late in the day from Avondale to Tauranga went quickly for trainer Ross Taylor.
Swimming in his mind was not so much the win by Star Satire, but the way his class filly achieved it.
The $150,000 Bayer Classic loomed large.
"The way she won so well surprised me," said Taylor yesterday.
"If she couldn't win that race then she wasn't worth taking to the Bayer, but to do it with half a stone more than the others and to do it without letting go was impressive."
Star Satire carried 56.5kg, a big weight for a filly, drew awkwardly wide and simply bolted in.
It was the type of lead-up to a group one race that makes trainers sleep well.
An hour or so earlier Taylor watched several of the 3-year-olds he may meet in the Bayer run seemingly below their best in the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton.
And late on Saturday night Star Satire was in her paddock at home with those at Riccarton facing a long float trip home.
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That won't be the last win Krystal Klear scores.
The 58kg the Takanini mare carried was 8kg more than the runner-up Catherine, a big weight concession for a mare.
"We'll take her through the grades and look to find her a nice 2000m somewhere," said co-trainer Stephen McKee.
Krystal Klear sprinted impressively in R5 at Avondale when Matthew Williamson found her a gap in the home straight and had no trouble finding plenty when Catherine lunged and momentarily looked likely to run her down.
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Classic Babe, Straight Back, Ismailia and Kimani are among those worth following from Avondale.
Straight Back had to angle past four or five horses before Reese Jones could find him a gap to challenge the leaders in the home straight and the opening came too late and saw him take fourth.
Winner Call Minder is underrated, but when she puts it together as she did in the Plusone Restaurant (1600m), she looks every bit a champion.
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You would think winning two races on Derby Day at Flemington, finishing third in the Derby then first and third in the Melbourne Cup might just about expend your luck.
Not so.
Gerard Peterson was at it again at Avondale on Saturday, winning with Maythehorsebewithyou.
Well, the other horses weren't with him, and with a two-from-two record he is looking a bit promising.
So too is juvenile winner Prude, who made a big impression bolting home in her debut run for trainer Bruce Wallace and her owner, stable employee Kolose Reuelu.
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Showella has joined Sunline as a nomination for the world's richest raceday, the Dubai International meeting on March 24,
Nominations are free for all races and close on Wednesday.
The sparkling line-up of choices:
* Dubai World Cup, $US6 million, 2000m, dirt track, 4-year-olds and up 57kg. Group one.
* Duty Free, $US2 million, 1777m, turf track, 4-year-olds and up 57kg. Group two.
* Sheema Classic, $US2 million,, 2400m, turf track, 4-year-olds and up 56kg. Group two.
* Golden Shaheen, $US2 million, 1200m, dirt track, Northern Hemipshere 3-year-olds 54kg, Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds 56.5kg, 4-year-olds 59kg. Group three.
* UAE Derby, $US2 million, 1800m, dirt track, 3-year-olds, Northern Hemipshere 55.5kg, Southern Hemisphere 58kg. Group three.
Godolphin Mile, $US1 million, dirt track, 4-year-olds 57kg, Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds 54.5kg. Group three.
All races have a 2kg allowance for fillies and mares.
Racing: Stylish victory puts enjoyment into a long drive home
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