Spell freshens winning filly

A break from racing proved healthy for bay filly I Am Boudica, who stormed home on the straight to win the $100,000 Tab-Touch Bunbury 3YO Classic (1000m) at the Bunbury Turf Club yesterday.

The Vern Brockman-trained three-year-old was first up after an almost three month spell and did not even trail before entering the feature race of the Bunbury club’s opening day.

Jockey Ryan Hill rode her well around the turn, coming from sixth to hold on to finish by half a length in front of the fast finishing Sweet Ora, who was ridden to its maximum on the sprint by champion William Pike.

Brockman said he was confident in I Am Boudica, despite limited preparation.

“I knew if she had any luck in running, that she would be finishing over the top of them,” he said.

“She is not a horse which is suited to the 1000 metres.

“Hill rode a good race on her. We were confident, without being over confident.”

Pike had a day out at the Bunbury Turf Club, winning four races to take an early lead in his defence of the club’s Jockey Premiership.

But ride of the day went to Mollie Clark, who rode $51 outsider Kirov Boy to victory in the $60,000 South West Isuzu Handicap (2200m).

The seven-year-old chestnut gelding led for most of the race and was the only horse at the meet to hold on for victory after leading at the turn.

Clark said she was nervous before the race after riding Kirov Boy only once during track work.

“I didn’t really know how to ride him,” she said.

“He likes to run his own race.

“I knew it wasn’t a front-runner’s track today, but I knew if he got the right lead on the rest of the field he would win it easily.”

Racing returns to the Bunbury Turf Club next Thursday.