Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Its Maa Time, a noted speedy frontrunner, revealed another side of her ability when she raced at the rear and sustained a powerful three-wide burst from the rear to score an easy victory in the $100,000 APG Sales Classic for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Despite her excellent form, Its Maa Time, a Captain Crunch filly trained and driven by Aiden De Campo, was a $11 chance from the outside of the back line, with Reinette, a winner at six of her 13 starts, a hot $1.34 favourite from the No. 2 barrier.
Reinette set a solid pace, with Delulu ($9) racing in the breeze. When $12 chance Jaxs Ideal began a strong three-wide burst from the rear, De Campo dashed forward at the bell to follow that filly in the final circuit.
Its Maa Time was switched four wide at the 300m and she sprinted sharply to charge to the front 200m later on her way to winning by a length and a half from Delulu, with Reinette wilting to finish third.
Its Maa Time, a $60,000 purchase at the 2023 APG Perth yearling sale is raced by a syndicate of 14 of De Campo’s friends and stable clients. She has earned $86,002 from five wins and one third placing from seven starts.
“She does a few things wrong, but the motor is there,” said De Campo. “Tonight, she wanted to hang quite badly. Luckily, her ability takes her through most of the time. We don’t trackwork her at home, and a lot of credit is due to Bella King, who rides her.
“She has really bad feet, so we can’t put her on the hard tracks all the time. She is a work in progress.”