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Chris Waller might have got it wrong in trying to mould Zougotcha into a sprinter, but he has wasted no time putting her back on the right path.
The classy mare made a brilliant return to win the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill, stalking leader and $2.35 betting site favourite Lady Laguna before ranging up to her in the straight.
The pair went head-and-head for a number of strides before Zougotcha ($4.20) finally got the better of the brave runner-up to score by a length, Madame Pommery ($12) another 2-1/4 lengths away third.
It was Zougotcha’s first appearance since an unsuccessful three-race spring preparation in which Waller admitted he erred in trying to make her into an Everest contender.
“I just had her in the wrong races, as simple as that,” Waller said.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing. We tried to make her into a sprinter, she has got that much brilliance she tells you that she is at home, but obviously (she is) a sprinter-miler.
“We tried to get her to an Everest and it backfired.”
Waller tipped her out and pressed the reset button, reverting to training Zougotcha like a miler with immediate results.
She will now be aimed towards the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill in three weeks, with the Doncaster Mile (1600m) also in the mix.
Winning jockey James Mcdonald said the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) worked out perfectly with Lady Laguna giving Zougotcha a good target to chase.
“I was happy to see the favourite (Lady Laguna) in front. It gave us a lovely cart up and she dug deep my filly, she’s a nice mare,” McDonald said.
“She jumped and travelled well and this prep has been much better. She is doing things right and she’s enjoying her racing.”
Tyler Schiller was proud of Lady Laguna’s effort and said she was beaten by a high-class horse.
“She has gone down fighting today,” Schiller said.
“You can’t be disappointed getting beaten by a Group One filly. I think she is still going well and at the top of her game, she probably needs a bit more speed in her races to get a nice cuddle in behind.”
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