FREE WHEELING MARE WINS ANOTHER GROUP 3

Talented mare Sovereign Award picked up her third Group 3 win of the season with free wheeling display at Flemington on Super Saturday.

Despite at stages during the 1600m contest being around eight lenghts in front of the field, trainer Danny O'Brien said he was confident she would prove ahrd to catch.

"I don't think she was going as hard as the jockeys behind her thought she was going," a jovial O'Brien said post race.

"I was watching the splits mid-race and she only going just sub-12s and I knew that she could sustain a gallop like that for a strong mile so coming to the turn I thought she is going to have something left to give here and be hard to catch."

The win was the daughter of Shamus Award's sixth from eight starts at 1600m.

The O'Brien mare once again wanted to overrace in front, but instead of fighting her, jockey Damian Lane allowed her to stride out  and while she appeared to be humming along in front, she was actually travelling at a controlled speed.

Sovereign Award posted 200m sectionals of 11.57, 11.63, 11.63 and 11.57 from the 1400m to the 600m. Lane deserves plenty of credit for the well-rated steer, but it has to be said that his rivals may have been a bit slow to get going on their mounts. 

O'Brien hinted at the possibility of the mare head to Sydney next week and back-up in the Coolmore Group 1 over 1500m. 

"She will enjoy the 7-day back-up and she handles a wet track, so if it rains it could be the ideal target for her. "

Pic by Racing Photos