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Skyerush has recorded her first career Group win with a hard fought success in the Ascend Sales Emancipation Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Guy Walter-trained mare returned to form last weekend with a narrow second behind Lightinthenite and went one better at Randwick this afternoon when taking out the Emancipation Stakes (1600m).
It was arguably a career best win for Skyerush who is now a Group winner with her previous highlight a stakes victory in Gosford's Belle Of The Turf (1600m).
Trainer Guy Walter says her maiden Group win was thoroughly deserved after a number of black type results in 2011.
“She is such a good little mare and such an honest little mare,” Walter said.
“She has raced well now for two, if not three seasons. She is an underated mare.
“She just wanted to win and that has been the mark of her career. She won three staying races in a row when she was a younger mare during the Winter time when she is not really a stayer.
“We saw her run very well last year in the Myer where she ran fourth behind Hurtle Myrtle and didn't have much luck in the Matriarch.”
The Super Jet mare had struggled to beat a runner home in her first two starts against stakes company this campaign however a drop back to Benchmark grade seven days ago proved a winning move for this afternoon.
“We didn't intend to run her last Saturday however she is an older mare now and she has taken a little bit longer to get fit,” Walter said.
Today's Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1600m) was the fifth time Blake Shinn has enjoyed a win aboard the six-year-old during nine starts in partnership.
Settling worse than midfield, Shinn remained patient and elected to remain relatively close to the fence turning for home.
It took a while for the pair to get clear running however they got the space required by barging through a split just outside the 100m before striking the lead and going on for a Long Neck win.
“It is great to re-unite with a horse I've had a lot of luck on and especially for Guy Walter who has been a great supporter,” Shinn said.
“The Emancipation has been a long range plan with her and it is great when you set a goal for a horse and it pays off.
“She is a very classy horse. She got in well at the weights today and on the quick back up really suited her.”
Skyerush has been a revelation for connections having amassed prizemoney earnings closing in on $500,000 during her 33 start career.