O'BRIEN'S JUDGEMENT VINDICATED

Danny O'Brien liked his two-year-old filly I Am In The Mood so much, he bought her younger half-brother at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale last week.

A week later I Am In The Mood made a winning debut over 1100 metres at Bendigo on Wednesday, after leading throughout under Craig Williams.

I Am In The Mood ($8) was one of 10 first-starters in the 12-horse field and defeated the swooping Cardigan Queen ($7) by three-quarters of a length, with Glamour And Glory ($6.50) a further three-quarters of a length away in third.

"Danny (O'Brien) said she was going to run well today, he likes the filly and that's why he bought the brother at Easter this year," said O'Brien's stable representative Marc Chevalier in reference to a Snitzel colt purchased by O'Brien for $330,000.

Williams was satisfied with I Am In The Mood's performance, praising her attitude under race pressure for the first time.

"She's a lovely filly, I think there was a lot of merit in her win and she has a lot of upside into how she won," Williams said.

"In the straight I think that if she had something in front (of her), a target, she would have been more impressive, I was half steering her with my persuader. She's still a filly learning her craft."

I Am In The Mood, a daughter of I Am Invincible, was offered by Widden Stud at last year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and was passed in for $500,000.

Widden Stud remains in the ownership of I Am In The Mood, whose dam Intimate Moment won four races including the G3 Epona Stakes (1900m) and is a half-sister to Bonnie Mac, dam of G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) winner Exceedance.

By Carl Di Iorio for Racing.com

Pic by Racing Photos