Innovation Girl Stars Again
By Greg Irvine of Cyberhorse 12/10/02

Sizzling filly Innovation Girl further enhanced her imposing record when she won the Group Three $100,750 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield today.

After settling off the pace in the early and middle stages the brilliant daughter of Rubiton came through runners at the top of the home straight to dart to the front and then the result was never in doubt.

At the post the sizzling filly was two and a half lengths too good for Sensational Spot, while Toast of the Coast was a long neck away in third place.

Winning trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith said Innovation Girl would "most likely" have one more race before being spelled in preparation to an autumn campaign.

That race looks almost certain to be the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Moonee Valley on October 24 under the lights.

"I'm not into burning my horses," Mayfield-Smith said. "So she'll only have the one more start before a break."

Innovation Girl was being aimed towards the Group One Thousand Guineas, which will be run on Wednesday, but those plans were thrown out the window when Mayfield-Smith elected to scratch her from last Saturday's Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington.

"It would have just been too hard for her," Mayfield-Smith said referring to the outside draw in the Manifold.

"She had to run well in that to earn a chance at the Guineas, so when we missed that run he gave away those plans and decided to run in this race," he added.

In the future Mayfield-Smith is confident the three-year-old will stretch out to 1600 metres.

"I'm pretty sure she would," Mayfield-Smith said. "But all connections would hope that about their horses."

Des Pope, the breeder and part owner of Innovation Girl, was again delighted with the performance.

"She is a special filly that's for sure," Pope said. "I thought she was a good thing today so it's nice for her to come out and win like she did."