Shezsofast Too Fast in Fillies Group One Feature

Shezsofast (NZ) (Vincent) proved to be too slick for her rivals when taking out the Group One Caduceus Club 2YO Fillies Classic (2200m) at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

Driver Andre Poutama took advantage of their handy draw (2) to push forward off the mobile arm to take an early lead. The pair were challenged on the outside by Twist And Tango (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), but the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained filly broke and subsequently interfered with a couple of runners, including favourite Alecto.

Poutama continued to set the pace upfront, and maintained their lead when driver Carter Dalgety improved with a lap to go to sit parked behind Lizzie Borden (NZ) (Downbytheseaside). The pair entered a duel down the home straight, but Shezsofast got the better of her rival to win by a half-length.

Poutama was delighted to rein home his first outright Group One winner and highlighted his decision to keep the lead as a major factor in the result.

“I saw Carter come around and then Mark (Purdon, driving Alecto) was three-wide, so I thought I would take my chances and stay here (lead) and luckily it paid off,” Poutama said.

While rapt to get the win for his employers, Mark and Nathan Purdon, and the connections of the horse, he was also delighted to get the win for Shezsofast’s breeder Phil Fleming, who sold her at last year’s NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale at Karaka to the Purdons for $35,000.

“You get a bit of confidence when you put these colours on,” Poutama said. “It is a great thrill for me as well as Phil Fleming, who bred her, he will be getting a buzz out of this as well.”

By Vincent, Shezsofast is out of Fleming’s Group Three performer River Polka, who is the dam of Group One performer Without You (NZ) (Captain Crunch) , Group Three performer Polka Delight (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), and 13-win mare Polka Dot Dance (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

Shezsofast has now won two and finished runner-up in one of her four starts, and has accrued more than $75,000 in prizemoney to date.