At Ease’s Sizzling Return

Monday, 06 September 0202 00:00

Classy four-year-old mare At Ease claimed her first black-type success in style today when producing an acute burst of acceleration to win the Listed Premier Warehousing & Distribution Sheraco Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill.

Trained by Warwick Farm horseman Steve Englebrecht, At Ease was resuming since being narrowly defeated by Pasikatera in the Listed James HB Carr Stakes in April of this year.

Indeed the daughter of Golden Slipper winning stallion Canny Lad has often indicated that stakes grade was not beyond her with her only other stakes placing last September in the Reginald Allen Handicap, astern of G1 winner Regal Cheer and Astronomia, underwriting her potential.

Racing just once as a two-year-old At Ease is a fine example of what can be achieved with a modicum of patience with today's win boosting her winning strike rate to 33 per cent from 12 starts.

Aided by a solid tempo courtesy of Gilded Grace's unencumbered racing style At Ease was allowed to drift back to near last for Larry Cassidy before working into the race at about the 400m.

Momentarily blocked for a run At Ease eventually pushed the highly-fancied Redoute's Choice mare Rosecutter aside to establish clear running and then exploded, zooming to the line to post a most impressive long neck win from last start winner Sugarbomb with grey six-year-old mare Fire Song hanging on well for third.

"She got into a bit of a bumping duel with Rosecutter and I thought we were up the creek," explained a relieved Englebrecht.

"But when she got out she knuckled down and got to the line really well."

"She's got a great turn of foot when she's let go and that was great win."

At Ease will now be stepped up to group level and will contest the G3 Research Stakes over 1200m at Rosehill on September 16 with the remainder of her campaign hinging on that performance according to Englebrecht.

"We will wait and see but I would like to travel to Melbourne for some of those nice fillies and mares stakes races", he said.

Purchased cheaply for just $12,000 at the 2003 Classic Yearling Sale At Ease has proved an astute investment as she has already accrued $171,650 prizemoney.

By Woodlands' highly competent colonial-bred Canny Lad, the sire of star gallopers Accomplice, Dodge, Allez Suez, Ancient Song, Calveen, Cannsea and Republic Lass, At Ease is from the Salieri mare Southern Royale.

At Ease's acquisition of black-type is a timely boost to her pedigree which has been devoid of such prestige for some time. In fact the most recent family member to enjoy such honours was Darling Take Care, a daughter of At Ease's third dam Darling Beware, which won the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes and G2 Leilani Stakes way back in 1981.

PIC - Sportpix.