A DECISION to send Australian Pacing Gold purchase No Win No Feed to New South Wales has certainly paid dividends.
Prepared in Victoria last season by part-owner Jaime Madruga, No Win No Feed was transferred to Craig Cross’ stable for her three-year-old campaign.
Making her racing return when second in a Bathurst Gold Bracelet heat last week, the handy filly was back at the venue for tonight’s Final.
Driven “a treat” by Todd McCarthy, No Win No Feed upstaged her more fancied rivals to capture the Group One.
“I sent her up for a few races with John McCarthy last season and was going to send her there again, but he is going away, so he said to send her to Craig,” Madruga explained.
“She did well in the heat in her first run for seven months and was always going to be better for the run.
“The boys had her primed perfectly for the Final.”
Beginning quickly to lead from barrier five, No Win No Feed was allowed to roll along as the favourite, Brooklyns Best, worked at the pacemaker’s wheel.
Striding clear around the home turn, the daughter of A Rocknroll Dance was untouched to score by 12-and-a-half metres from Our Ultimate Julie, with Brooklyns Best three-and-a-half metres away third.
“Todd drove a treat,” Madruga said. “He knew the better ones had to come from behind so he made it hard on them.
“We felt if she got the front without doing much work and could run her own race she would take a lot of running down.”
Rating 1:55.5 over 2260 metres, No Win No Feed took her record to three wins and seven placings from 19 starts for earnings of $76,060.
“Andy (Sinclair, part-owner) picked her at the APG Sale and we got her for only $10,000,” Madruga said. “This is Leigh’s (Flanagan) first horse and he’ll be over the moon.”
Poised to remain in New South Wales, No Win No Feed will be aimed at the Breeders’ Challenge later in the season.
APG Media