DOES Eglinton trainer-driver John O'Shea Havergoodone in his new three-year-old filly? He thinks so.
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On Monday afternoon at the Bathurst Paceway, O'Shea guided Havergoodone to the first win of her four-start career, taking out the TAB Odds and Evens 3YO Maiden Pace (2,240 metres).
After going from barrier five the $3.50 chance was at first caught three wide, then found herself one out and four back.
Then, as the bell sounded, O'Shea guided her into the the death seat outside early leader and race favourite Wild Shoobee Dada ($2.50).
While she had faced the breeze all that way and the third quarter was the quickest split of the race - clocked at 30.3 seconds - Havergoodone still had enough left in her legs to kick into the bend and take the lead.
She also had enough to pull away from her rivals to win by 9.1m in a 2:02.6 mile rate. Second belonged to $151 outsider Miss Nea Star, while another long shot in Caribbean Pat ($126) nabbed third.
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It was a solid performance given the Roll With Joe x Just A Dreamaway filly had been at least 11m off the pace in her three prior career runs.
The trainer-driver felt the easy tempo, with quarters of 31.0, 31.8, 30.3 and 31.4 were key.
"Even though she was in the death for a long time, she didn't have to do a lot of work," O'Shea said.
"The nice consistent quarters made it a bit of a stayers' event, you just had to be up the front I guess.
"She's got a bit of high speed, she's bat-shit crazy, but she's got a bit of potential."
