The three-year-old sprinters have established a clear edge on their older rivals this spring after filly Loving Gaby turned in a dynamic performance to win the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at The Valley on Friday night, ridden by Craig Williams.
Loving Gaby pinged quickly from the gates from barrier two to sit behind the leader while the inside gate for fellow three-year-old and hot favourite Bivouac was the undoing of the colt as he was tardy away and was sentenced to being locked away on the rail midfield for the rest of the race.
The win of Loving Gaby came six days after Yes Yes Yes beat the older sprinters in the $14 million The Everest in Sydney.
No three-year-old has been able to win the Manikato since Sepoy in 2011 and no filly has won the race since Dual Choice 1972 before the race was upgraded to a Group 1.
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher said he was thrilled to share the group 1 with his training partner Dave Eustace and he said his filly had long threatened to win a group 1 and he identified the Manikato as he chance this spring.
“I just thought she might bring herself undone going to the mile and this race looked like it would suit her,” Maher explained.
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