By Michael Howard (HRV)<\/p>\n
Jackie Barker seized the moment and her \u201cfavourite\u201d horse responded in a way she wasn\u2019t sure the mare could, landing trainer Diane Giles a coveted Allied Express Cinderella Stakes.<\/p>\n
The headliner on a nine-race card at Tabcorp Park Melton, the $30,000 prize was snaffled by Sew What on a night that saw some high-class types shone and others upset by long-odds rivals.<\/p>\n
Sew What, a $23 chance, was among that latter number, producing the richest win of her 96-start career after Barker capitalised when her lead rival, favourite Encipher, slid from contention.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really love this horse, she\u2019s my favourite one to drive,\u201d Barker told TrotsVision.<\/p>\n
That connection would have only been enhanced by their performance tonight, when Barker worked forward from gate five only to be left exposed in the breeze after Emma Stewart\u2019s class trio improved to the first three places on the pegs, with Encipher leading ahead of Petillante and Beach Life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sort of didn\u2019t really work out how I\u2019d hoped it would mid-race,\u201d Barker said. \u201c(Sew What)\u2019s not known for being that tough, she\u2019s more of a sit-sprinter, so I wasn\u2019t feeling overly confident in the run.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut down the back I was obviously travelling better than the horse in front (Encipher), which was obviously having some sort of issues, and with the stablemates both locked up behind I let her roll a lot sooner than what I usually would and it just paid off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stewards would later report that Encipher suffered an atrial fibrillation, which would see her fade from contention at the 600-metre mark. While Encipher’s trailing stablemates were shuffled back, Barker and Sew What made a break, grabbing a few much needed lengths.<\/p>\n
Every millimeter would prove vital, with Sew What holding on in the run to the line to score by a short half-head from Petillante, with the photo finish required to split the first two home.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t too sure (I won) to be honest,\u201d Barker said. \u201cI actually said to Murph (driver David Murphy) when we were pulling up I think I might have got beat, because the other horse was coming with such momentum, but luckily we just held on.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s definitely shown that she\u2019s up to this grade. She hasn\u2019t always had the best luck with barrier draws and things. Obviously coming up against a lot of Emma Stewart\u2019s really nice mares it\u2019s always going to be hard work.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think definitely she\u2019s a horse if she gets the right run she\u2019s always going to be deadly late.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Michael Howard (HRV) Jackie Barker seized the moment and her \u201cfavourite\u201d horse responded in a way she wasn\u2019t sure the mare could, landing trainer Diane Giles a coveted Allied Express Cinderella Stakes. The headliner on a nine-race card at Tabcorp Park Melton, the $30,000 prize was snaffled by Sew What on a night that […]<\/p>\n