The Clinton McDonald-trained Ancient Girl was victorious over 1200m in the hands of jockey Mark Zahra to provide the three-year-old daughter of Turn Me Loose with her second win from four starts.

 

Ancient Girl had been thought highly enough to contest the Gr.2 Caulfield Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) in September and McDonald was thrilled with the filly’s development since the spring.

 

“She did a really good job last time in and it was probably all a little bit too soon for her,” McDonald said.

 

“She has just matured mentally and started to settle down. She was in a little bit of a hurry last time in and this preparation she has just started to relax. It was a really nice starting point today.

 

“She is still learning what the game is about and needs to be taken quietly. We’d like to get her to Adelaide, which is our target, and we think she is a filly that will make the grade in time.” – NZ Racing Desk