Agrarian Girl’s grit has been praised by Adrian Bott as her defining trait, earning her a potential entry into the Golden Slipper via a debut triumph in the Lonhro Plate at Randwick.
Jumping at $31 despite accounting for Hidrix, the Canonbury Stakes winner from last weekend in a trial, the filly set the tempo early before threatening to succumb to Spicy Miss ($3.70), who filled the minor placing.
Displaying resolve, she fought back emphatically to hit the line a half-length in front, leaving Savage Look ($61) 1-3/4 lengths adrift in third.
Bott revealed the stable held no doubts about her ability, viewing her trial efforts as part of an ongoing education process.
“Maybe she has looked a little bit under pressure in her trials, but she has still been learning and developing, and she responded in those and that’s exactly what she did today,” Bott said.
“She has been a very talented filly all the way through. We did feel we were throwing her a little bit in the deep end, we did have her nominated for Canberra yesterday as well.
In fairness, off her trials and the way she looked, she just looked too magnificent to pass up racing here for a bit of black type on her home track.”
The result qualifies Agrarian Girl for a pathway to the Golden Slipper (1200m), with Bott to decide on the next steps.
“I think we have to. Whether that’s through a Silver Slipper or we trial into a race like the Reisling (Stakes), she has certainly got to be in contention with that tenacity she showed today,” he said.
“I’m sure there is some really nice improvement to come.”
Jockey Winona Costin notched an early double on Agrarian Girl after landing the opener aboard Zenmaster for Craig Carmody, appreciating the stakes chance from Bott and Gai Waterhouse.
“I’ve always been able to get a fair few two-year-old winners for them so it’s good to get one in town for them,” Costin said.
Stablemate Lady Moscato, the $3.60 market leader, ran fourth after setting the pace wide.
Resuming from a debut second at the Gold Coast last month, Bott anticipates further progress.
“She was honest. She just got a little bit keen outside the lead,” he said.
“Maybe the time between races for her, she’s still got plenty of time to keep improving.”
Agrarian Girl’s Golden Slipper quote has contracted from $101 to $34. Bettors should review racing betting markets ahead of her anticipated campaign.
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