WHEN prolific placegetter Cinnamona finally broker her maiden status in the DJ Motors 3YO & Up Maiden Plate over 1100 metres at Elwick on Sunday her trainer Neil Richardson likened it to “winning the Melbourne Cup”.
Cinnamona had been placed at three of her past four starts and in two of those races she looked certain to win 200 metres from home only to wilt at the business end of proceedings.
In most of those previous assignments she had led or been outside the lead but on Sunday she was slowly away from the barriers that left rider Kim Moore with no option but to take a sit back in the field.
It proved to be a blessing in disguise as Cinnamona settled off the pacer and when Moore presented her to stake her claim the five-year-old mare quickly hauled in the leaders and went on to win by 2-1/2 lengths from Vivre La Claire with Larasati two lengths away third and just in advance of Bay Cindy.
Richardson was ecstatic after the win and explained how he had been frustrated by the mare that he believed should have shrugged off her maiden tag a long time ago.
Listen to what trainer Neil Richardson had to say about Cinnamona’s overdue maiden win – click here .