By Bren O'Brien
Trainer Danny O'Brien is aiming at some black-type with his speedy 2-year-old filly Absolute Flirt (Stratum), who returned to the track an easy winner of the Ladbrokes Hcp over 1000m at Sandown.
Having her first start since being beaten by the subsequent stakes winner Yes Yes Yes (Rubick) in December, Absolute Flirt sat outside the pace and then kicked clear to beat the debutante Taraayef (Lonhro) by 1.25l, with another 2.5l back to Flirting (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) in third.
O'Brien said afterwards that he'd look to target a stakes race in the next month or so for Absolute Flirt, who was a $100,000 buy at last year's Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
"Potentially Adelaide is on the horizon over the next month. We'll see her there next start. She's a really bombproof, typical 2-year-old that does everything right, every time she steps out she improved a little bit," he said.
"She did everything right, she obviously had the benefit of those couple of runs before Christmas and had a nice break."
Jockey Damien Oliver convinced O'Brien to send the filly towards Monday's race rather than an easier country maiden.
Absolute Flirt pictured as a yearling
"She trialled well the other day. I was going to take her to Ballarat tomorrow, but Damien convinced me that Sandown was the better option," he said.
"She'll benefit from today's hitout and hopefully we can get her to some nice races in the next month."
Oliver said that while Absolute Flirt hadn't taken massive physical improvement in her time away from the track, she was mentally sharper and up to better races.
"This time of year, it’s worth looking at Adelaide, to find a little stakes race. She's certainly worth having a crack at something over there," he said.
Human Nature holds on
Human Nature (All Too Hard) caused a minor upset in the Easter Monday Hcp at Randwick, showing plenty of speed and courage on debut to hold off the well-backed favourite Czarson (Stratum).
Coming off a recent trial win and prepared by John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes. Human Nature survived an early speed battle and then kicked clear down the straight, before Czarson, having his first run since running fourth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast, launched late but fell just short.
Splintex (Snitzel), making his debut, finished third, having tested Human Nature early on.
A home-bred for Ramsey Pastoral, Human Nature is All Too Hard's third 2-year-old winner of the season. He is out of Tiarazou (Zizou), the full sister to stakes-winning 2-year-old Zoutenant out of the Listed winning mare Tenant's Tiara (Beautiful Crown {USA}). It's a family strong on juvenile credentials, with the 2-year-old Triple Crown winning filly Burst (Marauding {NZ}) featuring on the pedigree page.
Victories for Deep Field and Wandjina 2YOs at the Brook
Also causing an upset was Bengalia Bay (Wandjina), who won the feature 2YO colts and geldings' race at Muswellbrook, the Star Kingdom Hcp, after a brilliant front-running ride from Darryl McLellan.
The Pat Farrell trained colt was having his seventh start and is Wandjina's fourth winner in his first crop.
Just Field (Deep Field), having her first start, was ultra impressive in winning the feature fillies 2YO race, the Miss Finland Hcp, leading all the way for jockey Travis Wolfgram and trainers Peter and Paul Snowden.
She becomes the tenth winner from Deep Field's first crop, putting the Newgate stallion only behind Better Than Ready in terms of total winners for first-season sires.
Just Field pictured as a yearling
Just Field was a $650,000 purchase by China Horse Club and Alan Bell from the Cressfield draft at last year's Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale. She is a half-sister to the dual stakes-winning filly Granny Red Shoes (Not A Single Doubt).
At Toowoomba, Telemon Thoroughbred's Sidestep marked his fourth winner when I Am Courage caused a huge boilover on debut in the Mitty's QTIS 2-year-old Hcp winning at odds of $61,
I Am Courage was purchased for $7000 at last year's Inglis Classic Sale.
Sidestep leads the first-season sires race on prizemoney thanks to G1 Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi.
