SHOWMANSHIP ALL CLASS IN COMEBACK VICTORY

Showmanship showed there is no substitute for sheer class with a stunning comeback win at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The brilliant Perth sprinter has raced only once in two years due to a severe suspensory injury but he looked back to his best with a fast finishing win in the Group 3 $200,000 Show County Quality (1200m),

Owner Bob Peters, who watched the race from his Perth home, told News Corp, he was “surprised” Showmanship was able to give away such a big start and still win.

“At about the 300m he was about five lengths behind, and at the 100m he was still three lengths to make up and the other horse (Prime Candidate) seemed to be going all right,’’ Peter said.

“He surprised me in that he could make up so much ground. He must have had some good splits at the end of his race.’’

Showmanship’s closing sectionals underlined the merit of his win.

He flew home his final 600m in 33.82sec including a sensational split between the 400m and 200m when he broke 11sec as he stormed into the race.

Champion jockey James McDonald was also full of praise for Showmanship ($3.30 favourite) after he ran down Prime Candidate ($5.50) near the line to win by a long neck with Rocketing By ($14) 1½ lengths away third.

“I was pretty thankful to get the ride off Danny (O’Brien, trainer) and Mr Peters,” McDonald said.

“It’s good to put these colours on (cerise, white crossed sash and quartered cap), obviously they’re a force when they come over the border and they seem to take a lot of prizemoney.

“As for Showmanship, he’s a classy horse, prepped up to perfection. He was here to run really well and he did that.’’

Showmanship improved his race record to eight wins from 10 starts with McDonald suggesting the seven-year-old gelding is a horse to follow through the spring carnival.

Showmanship was on a six-race winning streak when he suffered the suspensory injury.

He was off the scene for 18 months before contesting the Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool in May, finishing third.

O’Brien then turned Showmanship out for winter and produced him first-up at Royal Randwick with the gelding producing a career-best effort.

Peters revealed Showmanship’s suspensory injury was severe and required a lengthy rehabilitation period.

“As it turns out it was a harder one to overcome than a normal tear so we had to do a lot of work with him on the farm,’’ Peters said.

“It was good to see him comeback.’’

Peters said it was likely Showmanship would return to O’Brien’s Melbourne stables to continue his spring campaign.

“Showmanship will go back to Melbourne now and we will look at a race in a couple of weeks,’’ Peters said.

“He handles everything pretty well, he is very laid-back and has had a bit of travel in his life. Now we know he can go up there (Sydney) if there is a race that suits him through the spring.’’

Prime Candidate seemed set to win when he broke clear halfway down the straight only to be swamped late by Showmanship.

“I thought he was home,’’ said Bjorn Baker, trainer of Prime Candidate.

“The winner was too good for us but I was proud of how my horse ran today.’’

By Ray Thomas, for Racenet

Pic by Bradley Photographers