Steps In Time shows class at Canterbury

Stakeswinning mare Steps In Time kicked off her new campaign in strong fashion with an all-the-way success against seasoned sprinters at Canterbury on Saturday.

Returning for the first time since the Brisbane winter carnival, Steps In Time ($2.30 fav) dictated the Goldners Horse Transport Handicap (1250m) from the front.

She had enough in the tank late to defeat Onthelookout ($16) by half a length with the same margin to Star Of Octagonal ($10) in third.

Multiple Group One winner Sniper’s Bullet was working home for fourth.

Trainer John O’Shea was in New Zealand and missed Steps In Time’s return but gave Jim Cassidy instructions to be positive from the outset and that’s just what the champion jockey did.

“She’s a lovely big strong mare and John was confident she would do the job today,” Cassidy said.

“John said just to be aggressive and take it to them which is what I did.

“She’ll take a lot of benefit from today’s run so it was a good effort.”

Steps In Time maintained a strong record at Canterbury with Saturday’s success her second from three starts at the track.

In her other start she was run down late by the talented Red Tracer in the Listed PJ Bell Stakes.

After another stakes placing in the Listed Hawkesbury Guineas, O’Shea took Steps In Time to Brisbane where she claimed the Listed Daybreak Lover (1400m) at Eagle Farm before contesting the Group One Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at the same track.

Now that she has furnished into a stronger mare, Cassidy believes the four-year-old is destined to head back to stakes company during the autumn.

“John has always had a good opinion of her,” Cassidy said.

“We’ve jumped the first hurdle and we’ll just look for the next one now.”

While Cassidy was delighted with the effort of the winner, trainer Joe Pride was left to scratch his head after multiple stakeswinner News Alert failed to beat a runner home.

“He just put in a shocker,” Pride said.

“I’ll give him some time in the paddock now.”

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