Smart trial performer Just A Floozie lived up to expectations when she made a winning debut at Avondale on Tuesday in the Avondale Classic (1200m).
The two-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible and Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) winner Thee Auld Floozie had been impressive winning two of her three trial outings, with punters installing her at the microscopic odds of $1.40 in the traditional Anzac Day feature.
After sitting outside the speed for rider Michael McNab, Just A Floozie looked to be in for a comfortable victory when she strode to the front at the 250m.
However, in the end, it was a close-run thing as she was all out to repel a brilliant late charge from runner-up Orchestral and third-placed runner Molly Bloom who closed to within a nose and a head respectively at the winning post.
Co-trainer Peter Williams, who prepares the filly in partnership with wife Dawn, was pleased to get a victory on the board as he looks forward to a three-year-old campaign for the filly next season.
“I never like it when they go out at odds like that ($1.40) on debut but she got the job done for us,” Williams said.
“She was fairly green in the run home and was gawking around and may not have even seen those other two closing on her.
“What we do know is she has good ability and she can now go to the paddock and have some time off before we get her back for the spring.”
Williams is looking ahead to some of the early season three-year-old sprint races for Just A Floozie, although he believes she will get up over a little more ground as she matures.
“I’m not really looking beyond the shorter distance races to get her going next time,” he said.
“In saying that she should get up to a mile but that might stop her at this stage.
“Her dam performed up to 2000m and I would never say never about getting her there as an older horse, but she has plenty of brilliance and that’s why we will stick to the sprints to kick off with.”
Just A Floozie was bred by James Chapman’s Jamieson Park, who remain in the ownership group after she failed to meet her $500,000 reserve at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
Along with the Thorndon Mile (1600m) her dam Thee Auld Floozie also claimed two editions of the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) and the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) amongst her eleven career victories while she was also twice a runner-up at Group One level.
The second and third dams Thee Auld Hussie and Thee Old Dragon were also quality performers and successful at stakes level.
Williams also confirmed that stablemate Saint Alice is likely to line-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, although a final decision on a start would not be made until later in the week.