News

Easy Win On Debut For We Betcha

19th Feb 2009

Racing and Sports - Alex Steedman - Thursday, 19 February 2009

$600,000 purchase at last year's Easter Yearling Sales We Betcha (pictured as yearling) has enjoyed an easy kill on debut in tonight's 2MW Handicap (1100m) for two-year-old fillies at Canterbury to give trainer Chris Waller his first win for the Ingham Racing team.

We Betcha was one of the first into stride but was immediately eased back to third last by jockey Corey Brown as Clarry Conners-trained Sydney's Ransom went to the early lead.

The Encosta De Lago filly was moved out three wide as they neared the 600 and enjoyed a trail behind Endeavouring who raced greenly in the early stages.

Sydney's Ransom got a break over her rivals on the turn and had a two length lead on them as they straightened for home.

We Betcha had a clear run from the top of the straight and by the 200m had swamped the leader and went on to win by three lengths.

Gai Waterhouse-trained filly Missonet edged out Sydney's Ransom for second.

Tonight's success for We Betcha is the first win the Chris Waller - Ingham Racing partnership has enjoyed.

“It's a great thrill for me, I don't need to tell anyone that,” Waller said. “It's a very proud moment.”

“It was very impressive, she was caught wide and was in behind a slow one at the 600m. She came out at the right time and got there quite easy. It was a great effort.”

The acceleration We Betcha showed in the straight captured the attention of winning jockey Corey Brown who posted his first win of the night the race prior with fellow Chris Waller-trained runner Natmana.

“It was a nice win,” Brown said.

“I landed behind Chris Munce's three-wide with a trail and was happy to do so but Chrissies didn't really tow me into the straight like I thought he would. He dropped off at the 400 and I had to make a run right around him and by the time we got around him, Hugh [Bowman] on the early leader was a good four lengths in front of me.

"It was a nice first effort on debut to chase and attack the line like that, it was good.

“She picked them up without me even hitting her and she idled down once she got to the front, she didn't really know how to race away. There is plenty more in store for her.”

The win follows three trials the filly has had since October 2008. We Betcha won the second trial at Rosehill on January 23 over 900m.

A $600,000 purchase at the 2008 Inglis Easter Yearling Sales, We Betcha is by Encosta De Lago out of multiple Group 2 winner Wager.

The daughter of Flying Spur won the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm in September 2004 after placing in the Tea Rose, Furious and Silver Shadow Stakes in her three starts prior.

Wager followed that spring campaign with a preparation where she mostly raced in Queensland. She won the Group 2 Sir Byrne Hart Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm in May 2005.