Racing: We can now say filly is better than good

We Can Say It Now showed blistering pace to earn a trip to Riccarton after winning at Te Rapa yesterday. Photo / Supplied

There was a moment a long way from the finish of yesterday's $45,000 James and Annie Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa when you realised the eventual winner We Can Say It Now is better than very good.

They ran a lightning 1:21.51 1400m to create a race record, but at the 700m they weren't going fast enough for We Can Say It Now.

Despite the hectic pace, the filly was looking to go even faster for rider Mark Du Plessis when the pair was tracking the speed in fourth place.

"Yes, if they'd gone faster she would have won by more - been even more impressive," said Du Plessis after weighing in.

The winning margin was a touch under two lengths over Charma and was scored with ultimate ease.

In running there was never going to be any other result.

"She doesn't jump away that quickly, but she's inexperienced and she'll learn," said Du Plessis.

After hitting the ground in the second half of the field, We Can Say It Now drove through quickly to sit behind the leaders.

Co-trainer Murray Baker declared he would almost certainly set the Starcraft filly for the $1 million 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 6, rather than the $300,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas against the fillies a week later.

"We've always rated this filly. We think she'll stay well and we can't wait to get her up to 1600m.

"I was going to take her to Melbourne this spring, but she's a big filly and I think she'll be better in the autumn."

Baker said the stable would aim We Can Say It Now towards an Oaks race.

He would not be drawn on who would ride We Can Say It Now at Riccarton.

Mark Du Plessis, having his first ride on the filly yesterday, is certainly hoping it's him.

"She could do what Katie Lee did last year, she's certainly good enough."

The win was another chalkmark on the honours' board for sire Starcraft, who has made a sensational start to his stud career. "We think a lot of our other Starcraft filly, Simply Brilliant, but we've had to scratch her a few times because of the wet tracks," said Murray Baker.

The fillies race in the same colours their sire raced in, those of Paul Makin, a Queenslander, who resides in Hong Kong.

Charma fought well for second ahead of an under-rated Blinding, with Smoulder, Dating and Magic Briar next. The first six home were inside the race record time.

Magic Briar did well to finish as close after sitting three wide on the hot pace.

Leith Innes was obliged to drop Banchee back to the tail from a wide barrier and from that point was always going to struggle to make up sufficient ground on the hot pace.

"She ran home 'just okay', but I guess on that speed she was never going to do anything else," said trainer John Sargent.

He will wait to talk with co-owner Peter Vela before deciding if Banchee will go to Riccarton or be set for the Royal Stakes at Ellerslie.

"I can't wait to get her up to 1600m with a good draw and put her to sleep."

* New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has appealed against the Judicial Control Authority decision to throw out its charge against Pukekohe trainer Richard Collett.

Collett was involved in an incident with fellow trainer Denise Jeffcoat and was charged with serious misconduct.

The JCA ruled that it would be improper to hear the charge because Collett had already been fined $500 by the Counties Racing Club, the maximum a racing club could impose.

Sarten memorial

* We Can Say It Now blew her rivals off the Te Rapa track.

* It was an easy win in lightning time.

* The first six home were inside the previous race record.