Following a disappointing first-up run, trainer Tim Clark was all smiles as the Tulloch Lodge filly Low Key made a successful return at Rosehill.
The three-year-old, who started as a short-priced favourite but was narrowly beaten by Threads on the Kensington track, has now seen that form line strengthened. Threads has since claimed a victory at Caulfield, and Low Key’s wire-to-wire win in Wednesday’s TAB Plate (1400m) suggests the September 9 race was a solid form indicator.
“I probably left the races the other day a little bit disappointed she did get beaten,” Clark commented.
“But looking back on it now after Threads has gone on and won a Saturday (class) race, albeit on a Sunday. It gave me a bit more confidence coming to today, knowing that form was really strong.
“She’d trained on well from her first-up run and it looked a lovely race for her.”
Under Clark’s guidance, Low Key ($1.60 favourite) secured the lead and maintained her advantage through the early part of the straight.
Despite showing signs of fatigue late in the race, the filly had enough in reserve to hold off Sapphire Legend ($8.50) by a neck, with Iommi ($5.50) a further half-neck behind in third.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott suggested the filly’s tiring finish was a consequence of the step up in distance from 1150m to 1400m. He expressed confidence in her considerable ability and confirmed her next objective is the Group 3 Reginald Allen Quality (1400m) at Randwick on Everest day.
“There’s a nice three-year-old fillies race over 1400 metres over the carnival for a filly like her that I think will be a nice, natural progression,” Bott said.
“It was great to see her get the job done today because I think she deserves her crack at that level.
“She might have just been out on her feet there late with that step up in trip. There was a little bit of early pressure there which she was able to withstand.
“Now, having that nice foundation and that run at the 1400 will set her up really well to take the step into that company.”
Low Key, a $280,000 yearling purchase, is by Pinatubo and out of the five-time winning mare Really Discreet.
Explore the racing odds at leading betting sites for the upcoming Reginald Allen Quality.