“THAT’S sort of how she likes to go”.
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Amanda Turnbull may have made it sound simple, but the drive she produced on Hey Porsha at the Bathurst Paceway on Friday night involved skill and timing.
In the gig for her father-trainer Steve Turnbull, she went from barrier three with the $2.40 favourite in the BHRC Awards Night 13th October Pace (2,260 metres).
The favourite began well, but with Ponte Milvio flying up on the outside, Turnbull opted out of the speed battle and instead ducked into the trail.
When Steve Turnbull then rolled into the death seat with Write About Me, it meant Amanda Turnbull had to wait for an inside run.
What racecaller Craig Easey described as a “dawdling” 32.3 seconds opening quarter of the last mile was followed by a 30.7 split.
That tempo ensured Ponte Milvio, also a member of Steve Turnbull’s team, would have enough left in her legs for the sprint home and Amanda Turnbull would have to time her move well.
She did.
As the field balanced in the home straight, Turnbull got Hey Porsha the inside run she needed down the sprint lane.
With around 200 metres to go, Hey Porsha hit the lead and from there the six-year-old went on with the job.
The American Ideal x Irresistiblegirl mare got home in 28.2 to win by 3½m over Ponte Milvio ($4.60), with Lucky Iffy ($29) a further 1¾m back in third.
It was the 10th win of Hey Porsha’s 69-start career and first since she saluted at Bathurst on December 26 last year.