Plymstock enters Golden Slipper equation with debut win

[Wandering Eyes]

Plymstock wins the Heineken 3 Handicap (1000m) at Royal Randwick on January 22, 2022. (Steve Hart)

Godolphin have once again staked their claim on the world’s richest two-year-old race, with Plymstock impressing on debut in the Heineken 3 Handicap over 1000m on Saturday at Randwick.

The filly gave Irish stallion Ribchester his first win in Australia as a sire, while she also emulated her half-brother Trekking by winning her first race.

Having had two trials leading into her debut, the James Cummings-trained youngster started as an $11 chance under Tim Clark and accelerated beautifully to swamp her rivals and win by almost a length over the race leader, Deep Expectation.

“She’s done a really good job on her debut,” Cummings said post-race on Sky Racing.

“She’s got plenty of pace about her; a speedy filly, and like a lot of these two-year-olds she’s growing still and putting it all together, but she enjoyed the nice pace of five furlongs and was nice and strong late.

“Her half-brother ran in the Golden Slipper, it all got a bit much for him on that occasion but he’s a multiple Group 1 winner now and she’s a valuable filly for us and for the farm.

“I think we will just tread carefully but it will be interesting to see what she’s able to do if we put a little bit more pressure on her.”

Where to for @godolphin filly Plymstock, a half-sister to Trekking, after her impressive debut at Randwick where she ran down Deep Expectation with Emperor in third? She’s $34 with @tabcomau in the $5m Longines #GoldenSlipper! pic.twitter.com/UgshbHDrop

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) January 22, 2022

As race caller Darren Flindell mentioned as the gates opened, Stay Inside won this race prior to his Golden Slipper success last year, so the result of the event should definitely be taken seriously.

After jumping well from barrier six, Clark opted to settle down with only three runners behind him in a hotly run race, before heading to the outside in the straight.

Despite Deep Expectation setting her rivals an almighty task at the 200m mark, Plymstock was able to quicken impressively and then cruised through her gears in the concluding stages to win eased down.

“That was most impressive. She settled back off them and travelled well throughout,” Clark said.

“She had a bit of work to do once we straightened up, but she quickened up nicely, went through her gears well, especially when the horse to my outside came to her it surged her on.

“(This race) has produced some good two-year-olds and she couldn’t have been more impressive there.”

While no decision has been made yet as to whether or not Plymstock will follow in Stay Inside’s footsteps and head towards the Golden Slipper in March, Cummings says he will continue to “raise the bar” should she continue on this upward spiral.

“She’s nominated for the good races and we’ll give that consideration,” he said.

“As long as she keeps thriving and heading the right way, we’ll raise the bar.

“I can see her running in a good race that’s for sure.”

Plymstock is currently a $34 chance with online bookmakers for the March 19 feature at Rosehill Gardens.

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