Blake Ryan feared luck was going to desert Lady Extreme for the second start in succession when she was briefly held up for a run at Canterbury, but the mare was able to overcome it to score her first city win.
The four-year-old was strung up behind horses for much of the straight at Hawkesbury last time out before motoring home for third once clear, and history appeared set to repeat on Wednesday as she tracked up behind the leaders only to have nowhere to go.
Fortunately for connections, jockey Jay Ford was calm under pressure, waiting for eventual third placegetter Lonrioli to make its run before hooking his mount to the outside to give chase.
Lady Extreme ($6.50) dived on the line to narrowly edge out Alvina’s Luck ($10) with Lonrioli ($11) close up in third.
“I thought there was a bit of deja vu getting to the corner from the other day, but she is tough and she put her head out,” Ryan said.
“She needed every bit (of the straight) but she got there.
“I’m rapt for (owner) Luke (Wilkinson), he put a lot of faith in us buying her back when she had her issues and sending her to us. I’m very grateful and it’s very rewarding.”
Lady Extreme has been a model of consistency since kicking off her career in the summer, taking her record to two wins and two placings from five starts with Wednesday’s Vale David Morrow Handicap (1250m) success.
Ryan said he may now look to step her up to a Midway race early next month.
“There is a Midway in ten days, it’s back in trip a little bit but we’ll have a look at her on a Saturday at Randwick. I reckon Randwick she will actually enjoy,” he said.
While Dean and Adam Watt’s Dynamic Syndications had to settle for a minor prize with Lonrioli, they were in the winner’s stall to start the day when Red Hot Lizzie took out the opening event.
The three-year-old has been slow to mature and was having just her second start, but Ciaron Maher’s Sydney foreman Johann Gerard-Dubord hoped she could continue to reward the patience of her owners.
“She has shown a bit of talent. She has taken a bit of time but the owners have been very patient,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“From the gate, we said to Tim (Clark) to push forward rather than getting caught wide and once she was in front and able to control, it’s the kind of track where it was a big help. She gave a good kick and she was good late.”
Clark later added wins aboard No Drama for Matthew Dale and Monarchs Brae for Chris Waller to finish the day with a treble.