PHILLY SPECIAL LOOKING VERY PROMISING

By Graham Potter | Saturday, August 20, 2022

Back from a quick freshen-up, Jasmine Cornish returned to the saddle after a well-earned weeks holiday … and she wasted no time in putting that ‘comeback’ win on the board when she partnered the Toby and Trent Edmonds trained Philly Special to an emphatic victory in the Fillies And Mares BM62 Handicap over 1200m at the Gold Coast on August 20.

After scoring one win in four starts in her first preparation, Philly Special spent more than a year away from race action before winning first up at Ipswich on June 30 in a Class 1 contest over 1200m.

That one was particularly encouraging, as was her follow-up effort in which she finished second, just a length off the winner in a BM65 race at the Gold Coast a month after her first-up run … so, although it had It has not been all clear sailing for Team Edmonds with the I Am Invincible mare (at that stage Philly Special had had nine trials and only six race starts) the lightly raced five-year-old had plenty to recommend her chances coming into the race.

Philly Special duly started favourite at $2.80. Two other runners, Not Another ($3.40) and Forget Romance ($3.70) started fairly close to her on the betting boards, but that was about as close as they were ever going to get as Philly Special and Cornish teamed up to simply blow their rivals away to win every bit as easily as the 3.30 length margin suggests.

The level of Philly Special’s superiority on the day is exemplified by the manner in which the victory was achieved.

Last away at the break, Cornish was content to allow Philly Special to settle into her rhythm while trailing the leader by some four to five lengths in the early part, before saving ground and making ground, travelling comfortably, on the sweep to the home turn which put her right on the heels of the leaders on straightening.

When a welcome split between the two leaders opened up early in the straight, Cornish needed no second invitation and she confidently pushed Philly Special through the gap.

The Edmonds trained runner was already up into a clear lead approaching the 200m mark … and that was basically the last her opposition saw of her as Philly Special raced right away over the closing stages to secure her third career victory in only her seventh start.

The next two runners in the betting Not Another and Forget Romance did finish next best, but, from the moment Cornish hit the accelerator button on Philly Special, they were always only going to be racing for the minor placings.

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