While the majority of jockeys scouted off the fence in the search of perceived better going at The Valley, Linda Meech was happy to take the opportunity of sticking to the fence with happy results.
Having only the one ride on Saturday’s program, Meech did not leave the fence in taking the Symon Wilde-trained Zoltan to a easy win in the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1600m).
Sent out the $3.70 favourite, Zoltan raced to a two length win from Muswellbrook ($6.50) with Guizot ($6) a neck away third.
“I spoke to connections and they were worried about the fence,” Meech said.
“At the end of the day it might be off, but I was pretty happy to stay there.
“You have to wait when there’s horses in front of you and outside of you. You just have to be patient, but they all rolled off and I was happy to go inside them.
“He’s race-fit. He’s going along really well and full credit to Symon. At Caulfield I was a bit like, hesitant, but he’s turned the horse around and got him absolutely flying.”
Zoltan was having only his third start in Australia after a 21-start career in New Zealand.
The son of Ifraaj followed a first-up seventh at Caulfield on Boxing Day with a second to the highly-credentialled Tuvalu at Warrnambool on January 20.
“It’s fantastic for the ownership group of the horse through connections of the stable,” Wilde stable representative Ben Casaneila said.
“They decided to bring the horse over from New Zealand and have a crack here, trying to win races like open handicaps with the better prizemoney.
“Some of the owners are here today and they’re absolutely stoked. It’s great to see smiles on their faces and it makes the trip worthwhile coming across from New Zealand.”