Repentant survived a late challenge from Pricing Power to claim victory in the Central West Electrical Benchmark 57 Handicap (1100 metres), for Bathurst trainer Dean Mirfin at Tyers Park on Monday afternoon.
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Starting from barrier three, the four-year-old chestnut mare settled in third, in the inside, before jockey Matthew Cahill pushed her forward coming into the final straight.
Mirfin was very happy with how the race unfolded, especially Cahill’s ride.
“I was very happy with the race. She drew well and Matthew rode her well. Perfectly. Just how we spoke before about how the race would pan out,” he said.
“She hadn’t raced in a far while, so I’m happy with how she’s come back.
“She did need a break from racing. Mares and that can a bit over tired from racing and she needed the break to clear her head, more than anything.”
It was in the final straight where Repentant took the lead off Raheen Lady.
But it was race favourite Pricing Power ($1.65) that challenged the Mirfin-trained horse but ultimately finished 0.25 lengths behind the winner.
Bathurst trainer Paul Theobald saw Dunderry just miss out on a placing, as Ken Dunbar rode the veteran nine-year-old gelding to a fourth place finish.
The final placing went to the Wade Slinkard-trained gelding Vencedora.
Early leader Raheen Lady finished sixth.
The win brought about the mare’s third career win and first since a win at Scone in March, 2017.
Her previous other win came a month earlier at Nowra in February, 2017.
Mirfin is pleased with how the mare is progressing.
“She’s a lovely horse, a well bred mare,” he said.
“I don’t know how far she’ll go. There is a race coming up here in a few weeks time which she’ll have a run in. I’m oping she does well it that.”
In training, Mirfin said Repentant, from Lope de Vega x Devil’s Walkway, has “her moments”.
“She’s a quirky kind of mare. I wouldn’t say she’s the easiest mare to work with in the world,” he said.
“She’s quite trainable and we put up with her biting and kicking.”
Mirfin said his mare coped really well in the temperatures that were pushing close to 38 degrees.
“That was an advantage she had, that she lived just up the road. She’s walked down here instead of going on a truck trip,” he said.
“You do get an advantage in this weather. Thank goodness we made the most of it.”
Atum, Scarlet’s Choice and Infinite Advantage were all late scratchings.
