Novice filly No More Tears caused a boilover at Te Rapa yesterday when she stormed home late to snatch a stakes victory on debut as she claimed the day's feature event, the Listed Hamilton Vets Equine Stakes (1100m).
One of three runners in the event from the Cambridge stable of Stephen Marsh for Albert Bosma and his Go Racing syndicates, the nuggety Darci Brahma filly upset her more fancied rivals at odds of better than $26 as she belied her inexperience with a thoroughly professional performance to claim the win.
Settled towards the rear as pacemakers Unsurpassed and Thwayya set a solid speed up front, No More Tears was still a conservative seven lengths from the lead as the field swung for home. Rider Michael Coleman didn't panic and balanced his mount up before producing an irresistible burst through the middle of the pack to hit the front in the shadows of the post and race away to win in a smart 1m 03.49s for the journey. Pacemaker Unsurpassed tried her hardest to give trainer Jason Bridgman a victory on his last day in charge of the Te Akau Racing team but had to settle for a gutsy second.
Thwayya also battled on nicely to shade Miss Wilson for third with race favourite The Justice League fifth after sitting wide all the way from an outside barrier.
Trainer Stephen Marsh was understandably delighted after the race given it had been a last minute decision to nominate for the event.
