The Derek Cruz-trained sprinting mare Psychologist has been accused by trial watchers as having a split personality, but she finally showed her best side on raceday to break through and land a rare win for the fairer sex at Sha Tin.
Psychologist ran a cracking 1,000m barrier trial at the Pre-Season Carnival, and even though she has produced similar efforts in the past, it hasn't been transferred to the races.
"I was very confident after riding her in that trial, and her final run last season," jockey Andreas Suborics said.
Psychologist's ability wasn't in question - the six-year-old Australian-bred was a Blue Diamond Prelude winner on debut, and later won a Group Three in her homeland. What was doubtful was the daughter of Choisir's reliability, but Suborics said she was ready to climb back up the ratings. After dropping from 85 through 11 unplaced runs last term, Psychologist found herself in Class Four on 60 and was second to Dining Star late in the season at Sha Tin. Suborics said it wasn't so much the drop in grade, but a change in tactics that day - she took a sit - that made a difference.
"Last year we dropped her back and she went well, but she was even more relaxed before the race this time," he said.
Now back in Class Three, Suborics said improved fitness could offset the step up in grade. "I don't know that she will make it back up to 85, but I am sure she will be competitive in Class Three. I think, step-by-step she is getting better - she is still a bit heavy, so there is improvement there."
There are only a handful of fillies and mares in training at Sha Tin; there is no weight allowance for them in the handicaps and no races specifically set aside for them.
It had been nearly two years since a mare had won in Hong Kong - and Psychologist's victory means Cruz has trained the last two female winners. Cruz-trained mare Healthy Contender was the last to breakthrough, winning a Class Five at Happy Valley in October 2011. Before that he prepared Kimberley to back-to-back wins early in the 2010-11 season.
