Six-year-old mare She’s Unusual was a well-supported winner of the Irresistible Pools & Spas Handicap (1900m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The daughter of Unusual Suspect was perfectly ridden by Zac Lloyd, tracking the leader Nkosi before unleashing a devastating sprint to score by just over three lengths.
Sporting the colours of OTI Racing for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, the Randwick conditioners believe the mare is best-suited by a space between runs.
“Bar one hiccup this preparation, she has been superb,” Charlton said.
“We probably really learnt how to handle her and train her and she presented in excellent order today at her favoured distance and she’s very fit.
“She is a lightly-framed mare, there is not much of her but we will keep her nice and fresh.
“We like to space her runs as you can see and she nice and effective.”
The winner of five races with a further six placings from just 13 starts, She’s Unusual is likely to be set for the Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) at The Valley on Cox Plate Day.
Winning rider Zac Lloyd said She’s Unusual was a strong stayer but her turn of foot is what separated her from her rivals.
“Nkosi I thought would build from the 800m because he looks a bit one-paced where she handled that pressure so comfortably,” Lloyd said.
“Her turn of foot was really good.”
She’s Unusual’s time of 1:54.98 was just a second outside the track record over the 1900m.
The winner of an Awapuni maiden over 1400m for Fraser Auret in late 2023, She’s Unusual was bred by Auret’s parents Nigel and Adaire.
She’s Unusual is a daughter of Unusual Suspect, who stands at the Auret family’s Letham Stud, where the stallion has carved a good niche producing middle-distance gallopers and is the sire of 49 winners from 83 starters.