Thirteenth Date………Strikes First, Strikes Hard and No Mercy!!!!
Last weeks feature race was Strike First, Strike Hard Show No Mercy at Grade I level and it was taken out in great style by Thirteenth Date, trained by Congie5 and ridden by Y Carpenter.
The win was good as she jumped quickly from her wide gate and went straight to the middle of the field in the 7 horse field and settled nicely. She traveled sweetly on the bit until she was asked for her effort and she surged at top of the stretch and went furthering front in the stretch and continued to draw away from the field over the final furlong of the race and shook off the late challenge of Theatrical Cry, on the post she won by 2.75 lengths. They tried hard to pick her up but Thirteenth Date had too much speed through the entire stretch run and they just could not keep up, she held the lead and was eased down on the line to win by 2.75 lengths.
Carpenter returned to scale and was thrilled by the win saying once she settled in the run and she was asked for the effort, once we got to the front she was always going to win, that was an impressive win and there are bigger things in store for this filly as that win was done in pretty easy fashion and there is plenty more improvement and she continues to perform at this, she may measure up to another grade I race down the track.
Congie5 was also quoted after that race as saying “This girl has been a great performer for me, this is her 5th win and importantly her 1st at Grade I and even more importantly my first Grade I as a trainer, and it is a great thrill to be training her. She has always shown promise and hope she keeps improving, we will now aim for another grade I race”.
In winning Thirteenth Date recorded her 5th win from 13 starts and importantly as her trainer said above her 1st win at Grade I level. In doing so recorded a 103 speed figure and raised her stake earnings to $481,122.
Well done to the winner and congratulations to the connections.
Simon