WHAT'S UP HONEY GETS UP IN A LAST STRIDE THRILLER

By Graham Potter | Friday, June 30, 2023

What’s Up Honey provided the David Vandyke stable with the first leg of a race-day double when the Better Than Ready filly shed her Maiden ticket in her fourth career start when scoring in a QTIS Three-Year-Old Fillies Maiden Handicap over 1350m at Ipswich on June 30.

It was a nail-biter of a finish with What’s Up Honey, who was easy to back at $6, getting home by the narrowest of margins … under an inch perfect ride by Kyle Wilson-Taylor … to see off the $2.70 favourite Peony Surprise.

What’s Up Honey jumped well from the number one barrier draw, and Wilson-Taylor was happy to settle his mount in third spot, holding the rail, just two lengths off the early leader Sistine Chapel ($13), all the while tracking the favourite who was racing in second place through the first half of the race.

Wilson-Taylor still bided his time throughout the sweep to the home turn with What’s Up Honey going back to fifth place temporarily as the speed came around him … but the filly was still never more than two lengths off the lead.

What’s Up Honey straightened right on the back of Peony Surprise, and when the favourite breezed past Sistine Chapel and set sail for home, Wilson-Taylor duly revved up What’s Up Honey … and the chase was well and truly on.

The deficit was still two lengths with 200m left to run … and was down to a length, and closing, just inside the final 100m.

With Wilson-Taylor vigorous in the saddle, What’s Up Honey continued to drive at her rival, closing the gap with every stride, to the extent that, over the concluding stages, it became a case of whether the post would come in time to save Peony Surprise, and the answer to that question came in the very last stride when What’s Up Honey snared the favourite on the line.

That last stride push was the only time over the entire 1350m when What’s Up Honey was in front.

This was What’s Up Honey’s third run in her second preparation … she only had one run in her first preparation for a fourth placing on debut … and the 1350m represented a step up in distance from her previous two runs which were over 1000m and 1200m.

The rise in the distance test and the improved fitness levels three runs in were obvious telling factors which helped put What’s Up Honey’s important first career victory on the scoreboard.

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