High-class mare Nimalee has put herself in pole position to chase another Group 1 win in next week’s Epsom Handicap with a gritty victory in the Racing & Sports Golden Pendant at Rosehill.
Jockey Regan Bayliss opted to go forward from an outside gate and Nimalee camped at the flank of leader Expat, eventually getting the better of her before lifting again when Queensland visitor Palaisipan lunged at her in the final bounds, clinging on to win by a half-head.
Trainer Matthew Smith will see how Nimalee ($8.50) comes through the run before making a decision, but he is keen to back her up in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) next Saturday.
The mare is a Group 1 winner of the Queen of The Turf Stakes over the Randwick mile and has 54.5kg in the major.
“I don’t know if we have backed her up before but she’s a big, strong mare, she is a good eater and she helps herself anyway so if she comes through the race OK, we’d definitely have a serious think about it,” Smith said.
“She has taken a couple of runs to get her fit this time in and I had to put a couple of extra trials into her as well so it’s good to see her today tough it out at the finish.
“She didn’t have any favours and she was strong late. Super effort.”
Bayliss was taken with the courage the mare showed and felt she would be a genuine chance in the Epsom.
“She was in for a dog fight today, she’s a top-class mare,” Bayliss said.
“Hopefully she pulls up well and she’s a mighty good chance in the Epsom next week.”
Palaisipan ($10) was equally brave after being forced to race wide while Pippali ($81) defied her odds to finish close-up in third.
Espiona started a $4 favourite and got well out of her ground early before making late headway to finish fourth, 1-1/2 lengths from the winner.
While not disgraced, Waller expected more from her and said he would have his vets examine Espiona closely before she raced again.
”Something is not quite right,” Waller said.