HAWKESBURY trainer Sean McCormick was happy he made the trip out to Bathurst yesterday afternoon as his four-year-old mare Karela broke through for her first win at Tyers Park.

The daughter of Bureaucracy out of Rukmani started the Fillies and Mares Maiden Handicap (1200 metres) as a $10.70 shot with just the one run under her belt this preparation, a handy sixth at Hawkesbury three weeks ago.

A perfect ride from Jay Ford that saved her plenty of extra ground saw her get by Miss Hong Kong ($7.30) and She Brings ($8.40), holding on for a half-length win and giving her trainer plenty of encouragement.

“The plan was for her to get comfortable and settle, though I don’t think I expected her to be sitting second-last mid-way through the race,” McCormick said.

“Whatever happened I didn’t want Jay to hook wide, I wanted him to come through them in the middle or on the rail and that’s exactly what he did, it was an exceptional ride.

“I did give her a very good chance of winning here, she has a history of tying up, but I’ve been really happy with her in this preparation, we seem to have got her problems under control and if they’re hitting the line hard, I’m happy.”

Early on there was no shortage of runners putting their hand up for a prominent spot, before Fly For Rylie ($39.90) settled at the head of the field and went out to a length and a half lead.

Favourite Charmed ($4) settled fourth from last, but soon enough was worked into the race by jockey Kevin May and was mid-field as they hit the turn with 600m to race.

Volkans Express ($17.40) was another one to move forward as they approached the bend and dragged Charmed into the action on the outside, as She Brings and Miss Hong Kong all started to press their claims.

That group were all relatively wide on the track though, and in the meantime Karela had stalked her way to the front closer to the rail.

While she was never able to break free and have an easy run to the post, she didn’t yield any ground to the chasing group which was led by Miss Hong Kong.

Karela finished half a length clear, with She Brings another half a length away in third.

It was only the second time the four-year-old had been placed in her eight starts, but the trainer is optimistic that with a win under her belt and her problems behind her, she has a bright future.  

“I will probably give her one more run in the country and then one either in the city or at provincial level and then send her to the paddock,” he said.

“I think there is enough ability there that if we keep her on the right track she is capable of a mid-week win in town.”