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Well bred mare Classics is beginning to show trainer Peter Snowden what she is really made of after an impressive win at Rosehill on Saturday.
The lightly raced mare has always shown promise but struggled as her preparations went on but after a year off, the daughter of Commands has flourished winning back to back city races.
Ridden by Christian Reith, Classics jumped well from the barriers and was allowed to settle fifth one off the fence behind second favourite Tromso.
It was a position that Reith was happy to keep until 275m from home when he hooked around the heels of Tromso. After taking every advantage the race was there for the taking but Tromso would give in easily.
Stride by stride Classics took ground off Tromso but it wasn't until 20m from home before Reith got his charge in front.
At the line the margin was a long head between the pair with a further length and three quarters to Samui Lad in third. The overall time was 1.22.44 with the last 600m run in 34.87.
“She is only lightly raced and she did show us her last two preparations that she had ability but she was lightening off too quickly in her preparations,” Snowden said.
“We gave her a long break it is has been the making of her, she is a much stronger mare now and is coping with the racing better and hopefully she can fulfil what we always thought she might do.
“She had the gun run, [Reith] rode her patiently and he just saved her to the last 100m and it was probably the difference between winning and losing.
“He is riding in career best form at the moment, he gives everything a good chance, he is a good guy who rides well, works hard and does a great job.
“She is a valuable mare and a black type will make her even more valuable, so that will be our next assignment, try and get some black type.”
“I didn't think I was going to pick up Hughy, his horse gave a tremendous kick, I was struggling to get to him but late she was really good,” Reith said.
“She was on and off the bit a little bit today but she still ran well.”
Classics is out of the Group 1 Salinger Stakes winning mare, Ancient Song and is owned by Sheikh Mohammed.