THREE back on the pegs on the final turn with little room to move.
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It's not exactly what you would call a winning position.
Yet somehow Will Rixon and his first-time starter Oursouthernstar ($2.20, trained by Peter Rixon) got the win in Monday's Barkers Butchery Two Year Old Pace (1,730 metres) at Bathurst Paceway.
Oursouthernstar announced her presence on the pacing stage in a big way with her brilliant sprint home over the closing 200 metres, weaving her way to the outside and still finding the pace to finish her race off.
The first foal of Our Southern Belle started her race from the inside gate and was touted as a leading chance given her solid trial performance.
She battled for the race lead but had to give up the position to Ellen Shannon on her outside, who in turn would hand over the running to Tromso.
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That left Oursouthernstar boxed in an uncomfortable position for any horse to be in, let alone a runner on debut.
On the turn for home Rixon had a wall of three horses in front of him but a space opened up to his outside.
Oursouthernstar squeezed between So Am I and High Rollin Belmer to finally see clear air.
From there she put on a show.
The race looked to be a three-way battle between Mac Stubborn, Tromso and Brilliant Art inside the closing 200m but Oursouthernstar torched them in the closing strides.
The winning mile rate was 1:58.6.
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"She probably began better than I thought she would from the barrier. I was pretty confident I was going to hold the lead," Rixon said.
"I wasn't too happy when I was three back on the pegs but credit to the filly, she got out at the top of the straight and finished off really well and has developed a really great attitude.
"A massive thanks goes to the owners for being really patient with her."