Promising Kiwi filly Elsie May broke through for her first victory for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Wednesday under a determined Luke Campbell ride.
Originally prepared by Brian and Shane Anderton, Elsie May won two of her first three starts and was sold to the Maher-Eustace stable after finishing seventh in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m).
The three-year-old daughter of Time Test had made good ground to finish seventhon Australian debut at Caulfield and was sent out a $6.50 chance on Wednesday.
Patiently handled by Campbell, Elsie May came from well-back along the rails to drive through a narrow gap and prevail by a nose from Regal Vow and Frankly Elegant.
“When that gap appeared, I thought it’s now or never,” Campbell said. “She agreed with me and said ‘let’s go’ and I said ‘sweet as’.”
Wayne and Jack Stewart of White Robe Lodge remain in the ownership of the filly who has now won three of her seven career starts.
By Little Avondale stallion Time Test out of the winning Zacinto mare Rosaeflora, Elsie May was purchased by Jack Stewart out of the Valachi Downs dispersal sale as a trial winning two-year-old via Gavelhouse Plus for just $22,500.
Elsie May was not the only former Kiwi to salute on the Sandown card, with four-year-old Redwood gelding Jabbawockeez railing through under Damien Oliver to score over 1600m.
Previously trained by Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, Jabbawockeez was a good trial winner at Ellerslie in late 2021 and is raced by many of the same owners as fellow Kiwi import Mr Brightside.
Prepared by Ben and JD Hayes, Jabbawockeez has now won three of his seven starts for his new connections and provided Damien Oliver with the second leg of a double on his return to the saddle after a brief winter break.
“I thought I might be three-wide with cover, rather than three-back the fence,” Oliver said.
“It didn’t quite work out that way but they were going pretty steady. I was following the right horses and I thought it would open up alright for him and it was just a matter of whether he could sprint quickly enough off that slow pace to pick them up.
“Halfway up the straight when I got stuck into him he responded really well and it was a very good win.
“That’s my first ride on him but he has shown he has got a bit of a turn of foot, especially on heavy ground which he was on today.
“I’ve got to commend the Hayes boys. They are having a great season and it is nice to be a small part of it because they are training really well.”