HONOURS were shared equally across the board on Coolmore Home of Champions Raceday yesterday at the Garrison Savannah as last year’s Derby winner Butterfly proved to be three and a quarter lengths better than her opponents.
Reunited with regular pilot Antonio Bishop, the Gay Smith-owned four-year-old filly easily notched career win number three in her 11-race career, striding clear with the featured Australia Handicap over 1 800 metres.
The winning pair had settled one from last on the going listed as good and good to soft in some area.
Leaving the starting point, Legion, Oberoi and Island Cotton all went for the lead. Having cleared the paddock bend, Island Cotton took up the running from Oberoi and Legion leaving second favourite Zip Code still trailing Butterfly.
After a reasonable six furlongs in 1:17.1, outsider Felony Fire burst from mid pack to lead the field pass the quarter mark heading for home. Watching the proceedings like a hawk, Bishop got Butterfly into full momentum and like a true champion she sailed by all runners to bring the field into the homestretch.
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