Stateira maintained her perfect record at Newcastle and completed a full set of All-Weather Championships finals for Andrew Balding with an impressive win in the BetMGM Fillies' And Mares' Championships Handicap.
The Gary Gillies-owned four-year-old was chasing a £15,000 bonus, having scored by four lengths at the AWC Trials meeting at the course in January, but was returning off a 10lb higher mark.
Covered up in mid-field by Oisin Murphy, 11/8 favourite Stateira travelled ominously into the race a furlong and a half out and quickened well to take up the running from her chief market rival Carolina Jetstream approaching the final half furlong.
Indigo Dream (8/1) made late inroads to take second, two lengths adrift of the winner, with Brazilian Rose (25/1) edging out Carolina Jetstream for third.
Murphy said: “Stateira was entitled to be favourite. I was just a bit concerned about how the track is playing – I thought we would have to change plans. What I mean is, normally we let her come out in neutral and she races on the speed, but I thought if I rode her that way today, she would do too much into the headwind.
“She really applied herself well to being taken back early: she went to sleep. The leaders were slowing down – they raced between the three and the two. I sat and they had started to slow down before I asked her a question.
“The guys at home have done a terrific job. She had a few hold-ups last year, but she is over them and in great health at the moment. When fillies get into that sort of space, they can really improve. She is a great example of that.
“Gary Gillies and the racing club have been very lucky. They had a Royal Ascot winner last year. They have this filly, they have Regal Ulixes and lots of nice young horses.”
Balding’s wife Anna Lisa said: “I thought Oisin gave her a beautiful ride. I thought she looked an absolute picture in the paddock – she looked brilliant.
“She had it to do today. She has gone up a lot and a 10lb rise is plenty, but she proved that they were right. Hopefully, she is going to have a really good season ahead of her.
“I am delighted for Gary [Gillies] because he went so close in the first as well, with Charlie Pike’s horse.”
Rebecca Menzies said of Brazilian Rose: “I think they probably didn’t go fast enough for her early doors; she was very keen, but she saw it out well. It is always the worry here over seven furlongs, a stiff seven, will she quite get home.
“Brazilian Rose has been an absolute star for us since we bought her from the horses-in-training sale. I think we only paid 15,000 guineas. She has won seven times for us and was a January bonus winner last year. She is pretty high up in the Horse of The Year bonus this season as well, so hopefully we will get a good payout for the owners.
“She is very tough and resilient. If you could put her attitude into more horses, we would have a lot of winners. She is a lovely horse, very easy to train, and we could do with a few more like her.”
2.25pm BetMGM Fillies' And Mares' Championships Handicap
1 Stateira (Gary Gillies) Andrew Balding 4-9-12 Oisin Murphy 11/8F
2 Indigo Dream (Eleanora Kennedy) Ross O’Sullivan 4-8-12 Jamie Spencer 8/1
3 Brazilian Rose (JPR Invesments) Rebecca Menzies 5-9-01 Kaiya Fraser 25/1
11 ran
Andrew Balding – 11th Finals Day winner
Oisin Murphy – 8th Finals Day winner
