WELL bred two-year-old filly Morgatoche delivered a substandard effort in Hobart at her second race start in Hobart that left her trainer Graeme McCulloch dumbfounded.
But last Sunday at Spreyton the filly by Wanted from McCulloch’s former star sprinter Ehor delivered the desired result after which the trainer heaved a sigh of relief.
Morgatoche made her debut with a near last effort at Tattersall’s Park in the $100,000 Listed Elwick Stakes in early February but she was far from disgraced.
However, it was at her subsequent outing at Devonport that caused the trainer and her owners concern when she failed to flatter in a two-year-old and older maiden won by Kentucky Bound in which she finished seventh beaten six lengths in a race that all concerned were confident she could win.
But all was forgiven last Sunday when she showed good early speed to lead with Anthony Darmanin aboard and when she entered the home straight the filly left her rivals in her wake and went on to score by 2-1/2 lengths from Colonial Coaster with Demoiselle Corsair 1-1/2 lengths away third.
“We still have no idea what happened at her previous start because we thought she could win but she just never put in but this time she did everything that was expected if her,” McCulloch said.
“She is well bred being by Wanted out of Ehor that was a brilliant racehorse and has so far been a very good broodmare,” he said.
Morgatoche will line up in the 2YO Autumn Plate over 1100 metres in Hobart on Sunday which is one of two feature races on the card with the other being the 3YO Autumn Plate.