Manner of win yesterday suggests the virus has proved extremely expensive
Yesterday's $30,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 2YO Fillies win by Twilight Savings threw up the feeling of what might have been.
Twilight Savings looked a filly of real class finishing fourth at stakes level behind her stablemate Lion Tamer at Pukekohe in November.
She developed a virus immediately afterwards and was a sick horse for an extended period.
The result was she missed the bulk of the season's important juvenile racing.
Twilight Savings won yesterday's race in a manner that suggested the virus has proved extremely expensive.
The filly came back from the break with a Central Districts win on March 28.
She wasn't entitled to win yesterday when she sat parked while the favourite Princess Emmy enjoyed the perfect trail.
Then Twilight Savings tried to run to the outside of the track on the home bend, requiring rider Michael Coleman to switch his whip to the left hand.
Princess Emmy slipped through to challenge and looked certain to win, but Twilight Savings refused to yield.
"She was trying to get away from the leader on the corner and took the bend very awkwardly," said Coleman.
"I was very worried Mark (Du Plessis on Princess Emmy) was going to grab us, but my filly fought back brilliantly. Murray (Baker) gave her a rap this week so he was on the money.
"She feels like a filly going places and it'll be good when she learns a bit more. She's a filly with talent."
Yesterday's race has lost its stakes rating so if the Baker stable is keen to establish Twilight Savings as a stakes winner its only option is a race at Riccarton.
"I'm not sure what we'll do yet," said co-trainer Bjorn Baker.
"If she doesn't go to Christchurch she'll be spelled and brought back for the fillies' races in the spring."
Twilight Savings and Princess Emmy were dominant and the latter should have no problems scoring again in any race Twilight Savings is absent from.
Wanganui visitor Mels Bad Boy made it a winning double in the north when he overcame bad luck to take the Auckland Racehorse Owners Association 1200.
Mels Bad Boy enjoyed a brilliant trail for apprentice Maija Vance, but when the apprentice went to push him through a narrow gap in the home straight, the opening closed.
Fortunately it opened again just in time for Mels Bad Boy to dash into it and push his nose in front of Cheeky Red, who had the race won.
