Six-year-old mare Precious Charm showed her trademark grit to overcome a firm Geelong track and a quick back-up, scoring her ninth career win in a thrilling A$200,000 Coastal Classic (1700m) at Geelong on Saturday.
Jockey Harry Coffey said the firm nature of the track was a factor as the daughter of Per Incanto only narrowly defeated Verdad and Reset The Jazz.
“She might have been feeling that firm ground on the back-up, so it took a lot of urging to get her to win, but she may have been looking after herself,” Coffey said.
“That’s understandable, she’s done a great job, she’s been racing in true heart and this track’s starting to get firm now and I don’t know if that’s right in her wheelhouse.”
In a driving finish, Precious Charm edged out Verdad, who posted his ninth second placing, while front-runner Reset The Jazz stuck on gamely for third. Holymanz, winner of the previous Coastal Classic editions, loomed as a threat turning for home but failed to finish off.
Wilde had returned to Warrnambool after Darkbonee’s win, leaving stable manager Ben Casanelia to reflect on the mare’s outstanding campaign.
“Even the run last week in the Lord Stakes had some merit. She never had a lot of luck and Jamie was kind to her in the end and Symon said we’ll roll the dice a little bit backing her up and the glass half full coming into today was that she was probably as good as any of these,” Casanelia said.
“She had no weight and she was drawn well. She is in form and the negatives were probably the harder track and the back-up. You’re never quite sure how mares will back up.
“She put it together and Harry rode her an absolute treat.”
With three wins from her past five starts, Precious Charm continues to reward her connections for their patience and looks primed for more summer success, with her career earnings already surpassing A$430,000.
Bred by Olly and Annabel Tuthill’s Beaufort Downs, Precious Charm is by Little Avondale Stud’s high-class stallion Per Incanto out of the High Chaparral mare Highly Valued, herself a daughter of a stakes-placed sister to Showcasing.
The well-related filly was purchased from the Rangiora nursery for $80,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale by Wilde Racing in conjunction with John White Bloodstock and Dave Mee’s Pinhook Bloodstock.