GAVILAN IN A CAKEWALK IN ONLY HER SECOND START

By Graham Potter | Saturday, November 25, 2023

Gavilan, an Encryption filly, made light work of her opposition in only her second career start when romping in by a four length margin in the Cannonball, QTIS Three-Year-Old Maden Handicap over 800m at Kilcoy on November 25.

The Tony and Maddysen Sears trained Gavilan did not race as a two-year-old and only saw her first taste of three-year-old race action on November 4, which was really just giving her a sighter of what was to come.

She was unwanted in the betting that day, drifting from $7 to $18 and finishing unplaced, 4.70 lengths behind the winner.

She certainly didn’t need any more racing experience beyond that to get the message of what was required to win, taking her second start in her stride under Nozi Tomizawa... and taking no prisoners in the run, right from the very first stride.

As it turned out, the race was effectively over once the field had travelled 200m with Gavilan clearing out by two lengths mid-race, cornering like a season professional on straightening before comfortably extending her lead in the final run home in which no other runner, including the Lee Freedman trained, $1.45 favourite Tsunoda, ever got a look in in terms of trying to contest the result.

Gavilan started as the second favourite at $3.40.

What great value that turned out to be!

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