WHEN Miss Rodriguez came from sixth on the bell to snatch victory at the Bathurst Paceway on Friday night, the Oberon mare also earned herself a chance at a bigger prize.
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The race Wayne White’s Tinted Cloud x Ginger The Gypsy five-year-old won was a heat of the Menangle Country Series, so she will now advance to the $25,000 final.
It was a close thing as driver Jason Turnbull worked four wide through the final bend of the 1,730 metres race and got her motoring down the home straight, Miss Rodriguez ($5.90) prevailing over $2 favourite Power Of Red by a short-half-head.
“I wasn’t sure,” Turnbull admitted when asked if he thought he’d won.
“[But] With the right sort of trip like she got, she always finishes off well.”
Chasing her first win since saluting at Bathurst on May 18 last year, Miss Rodriguez drew barrier five.
With Power Of Red shooting away from barrier four to cross and take the lead, Turnbull slotted into position one out and three back.
As the bell sounded Imthevillagestar rolled up into the death seat, the split for the opening quarter a relatively quick 29.3 seconds.
Down the back straight Anthony Frisby punched forward on a three-wide move with Uncle Peter, which meant Turnbull had to guide Miss Rodriguez four wide on the bend to try and find a run.
She got it and quickly began to make up ground.
While Miss Rodriguez was still fourth behind Power Of Red with 50m to go, she kept coming to take the honours in a 1:56.3 mile rate.
It was her sixth career win.