Debutant Swerving has defied a big betting drift to score a fighting at Geelong.
The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained filly opened at $2.25 to claim the All Time Pluming Maiden (1100m) before drifting out to run the $3.10 top elect when runners were dispatched.
There were a few anxious moments early in the straight as jockey Damien Oliver angled for clear running, but the filly dug deep over the final stages to score a long-neck win from Toronasaurus Rex ($14) with Shootthelightsout ($14) a further 3-¼ lengths away third.
Troy Corstens said the daughter of Extreme Choice had shown the stable a lot of early ability and they held her in high esteem.
But a few minor niggles along the way had delayed the filly’s debut.
“She’s by a stallion that is on fire at the moment in Extreme Choice and we’ve always had a really good opinion of her, so to see her do it today is fantastic,” Corstens said.
“But she hasn’t been stress free the whole way through. She’s had her fair share of niggling little issues and has taken a while to mature.
“She’s a really big, framed horse but she doesn’t carry a lot of weight, so we try and keep her that way.”
Corstens said there are no ambitious plans with Swerving but hopes the filly continues to improve and eventually get to better races over the autumn.
“It will be interesting to see where she can go,” Corstens said.
“Maybe we can look at the filly’s races over the summer at The Valley.”
Oliver said Swerving was strong in winning although he thought the filly may have won with a little easier.
“I thought I was going to win a little easier than I did, but the second horse gave a good kick in the straight, but we managed to get it late,” Oliver said.
“The second horse had a bit of fitness and race experience, so first-up, she’s done a good job.”