Nash Rawiller hatched a plan to replicate his Golden Slipper ride onFour Moves Ahead in the Tea Rose Stakes and he executed it to perfection as the filly surged to victory in the three-year-old feature.
Four Moves Ahead was the first filly home in the Slipper, finishing fourth, but she had enjoyed little luck in her two return runs.
The most recent of those was in the Furious Stakes when Rawiller opted to ride her quietly from a wide draw and she stormed home to finish fifth.
It was a performance that Rawiller felt set up the John Sargent-trained filly for victory on Saturday.
“When you get to know a horse and you know what she’s capable of and the idiosyncracies, probably the way we rode her the other day (in the Furious) has helped her win today’s race,” Rawiller said.
“I was going to end up in no man’s land last time. I was forced to go back, get cover, switch her off and everyone saw how well she hit the line.
“She loves this ground, I’ve got to say. When Swift Witness kicked there again at the 150 (metres), I was a little concerned, but just with that bit more sting out of the ground she really dug deep.
“She’s a very good filly and ‘Sarge’ has done a great job with her. He’s let me do what I felt I needed to do on her to get her towards the Flight Stakes.”
Silver Shadow Stakes winner Swift Witness ($11) hit the front in the straight and gave a good kick before Four Moves Ahead ($4.80) launched her challenge, wearing her down by a long head.
Mallory $4.60) was third past the post another head away but was crowded for an inside run and the minor placings were reversed in the stewards’ room.
Four Moves Ahead gave Rawiller a treble after earlier victories aboard High Supremacy and Kiss The Bride and Sargent said he left tactics to the in-form hoop.
“I just said, ‘Nash, you know what to do’ and he said, ‘I’ll ride her very similar to how I rode her in the Slipper’, which he did,” Sargent said.
“Her coat, this week, finally came out and she’s just taken a bit longer. She’s had a couple of runs where the ball probably hasn’t gone her way.
“Onwards and upwards to the Flight and that’s the one we want because it’s a Group One.”
She’s All Class started favourite but was never a factor and finished midfield.
