Promising two-year-old galloper Macocha ($6) made the perfect start to her racing career last week, getting her nose down on the line to score on debut at Ballarat. The daughter of Street Boss engaged in an enthralling battle with Invincible Beau ($3.20) for the entirety of the 1000-metre trip, the pair settling one-two in the run and forcing the judge to earn his keep and investigate a tight photo finish. Jockey Mitch Aitken held the inside throughout the event, his filly showing plenty of grit and gumption as her rival lay in on top of her in the closing stages. There was a pain-staking six minute wait before the judge found a margin and declared Macocha the rightful winner, saving stewards the trouble of a certain protest had the photo gone the other way. Aitken, who lost the handle on his whip before the furlong marker, rode hands-and-heels to the line and said there was improvement to come from Macocha’s impressive first-up run. “Today was a good learning (experience), the way she was intimidated. But she’s going to be a lot better ridden on the outside of horses.
“If she was on the outside of that horse, I felt like she would’ve pulled away and won by a length”.
Henry also acknowledged the scope for improvement, and was buoyed by the performance post-race. “She was great, a good experience for her. She handled the day just brilliantly.
“It was a bit of a nail-biting finish there, but she got the bob thankfully, and I think she would’ve got it in the protest room had she not got it”.
The talented filly has come through the run well, and will return to her home track on Ballarat Cup day to contest the 1000-metre Magic Millions 2YO Classic.