Race favourite Pure Elation kept the punters happy when she stormed home to win the Group 2 $600,000 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) on day two of The Championships at Randwick today.
Pure Elation, above, strides away to win the Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Winning jockey Michael Walker settled Pure Elation in the second half of the field and once the $4 favourite was eased to the middle of the track, her backers had nothing to worry about as she strode away record a comfortable one and a quarter lengths win.
The Chris Waller trained Fiesta ($6.50) was doing her best work over the concluding stages coming from back in the field with the Queensland filly Outback Barbie ($5) running an honest race for third.
Pure Elation wrapped up an early winning double for Peter and Paul Snowden Racing Team after California Turbo won the previous race, the Listed $150,000 The Agency South Pacific Classic (1400m).
Co-trainer Peter Snowden said that Pure Elation is one of the toughest fillies he has trained and thinks that she would not be out of place filling a slot in the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick in the Spring.
“She is a really good filly and Geoff (owner) said this morning if there is anyone out there with an Everest slot, she had a lot of talent,” Peter Snowden said.
“She is very talented filly and I sure here is plenty of upside and plenty of more good days to come.”
Snowden said that he had to abandon a Blue Diamond Stakes campaign for Pure Elation after she raced below par when seventh in the Group 2 $200,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m) at Caulfield on February 10 and restart her program back in Sydney.
“She was going to Melbourne for the (Blue) Diamond. She had a preparation all geared around that,” Snowden said.
“At her first start down there things just went pear shaped. Nothing went right in the race.”
“My call was to give her a break and bring her back later.”
“I thought I would give her a try and bring her back and she hasn’t missed a day since she has been there. Every day has been a good day. Her work has been great, her condition is fantastic.”
“She has always shown good ability but she does things in racing that are arrogant.”
“She ambled up to them today and was still floating around without even committing so there is a heap of upside to her.”
“I have never had a two year old as tough as this that has been able to do this and come up again and still look as good as what she did today.”
Pure Elation picked up a handy $344,000 pay cheque for winning the Percy Sykes Stakes today.
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