Brian's girl all class in dashing Debonair
Sydney Morning Herald 02/02/03

Star Melbourne filly Innovation Girl upstaged top Sydney colt Thorn Park in the much-touted match race, The Debonair (1400m) at Flemington yesterday.

In a race that was dominated by the on-pace runners, Innovation Girl was able to lead throughout to the delight of favourite backers, while Thorn Park languished near the rear.

The highly-regarded visitor could not match the brilliant sectional times posted by Innovation Girl, which scorched home her final 600m in 33.83seconds.

In fact, he was unable to recapture any of the brilliance he has shown in Sydney, as he finished unplaced for the first time in his brief career.

Innovation Girl ($2.25 favourite) scored by three-quarters of a length from the fast-finishing Delago Brom ($17), with a half length to rank outsider Tycoon Ruler ($61).

Thorn Park ($3) finished three lengths from the winner in sixth place, while the other Sydney visitor, Jeremiad ($9), finished eighth, almost six lengths behind Innovation Girl.

The chances of the beaten brigade gaining their revenge on Innovation Girl in the $750,000 Cadbury Guineas (1600m) on February 15 were dealt a blow by winning trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith, who cast doubt on the filly taking her place in the field.

"I'll have to have a long and hard think about the Guineas," he said.

"That was not a Guineas trial. She got stirred up early and made too much use of herself.

"I knew she'd give plenty in the straight because she has a lot of ticker, but backing up in a fortnight over the mile in the Guineas might not be right for her."

Mayfield-Smith has a range of options over 1200m and 1400m for the daughter of Rubiton, including the weight-for-age Swettenham Stud Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on February 15.

"I've got to place her where she can win," Mayfield-Smith said.

Winning jockey Nash Rawiller said he thought Innovation Girl would settle early in the race but she had too much "daylight".

"Her first 100m was relaxed but once she saw daylight she got trucking," said heavyweight Rawiller, who wasted to ride Innovation Girl at 54kg - the lightest he has ridden for a long time.

Runner-up Delago Brom will push on to the Australian Guineas and trainer Tom Hughes was thrilled with his colt's flashing finishing burst.

"He'll get a lot further this preparation. He was a big baby in the spring and he was 18kg heavier today than when he won the Carbine Club Stakes in November," Hughes said.

Trainer Bob Thomsen was not too disappointed with Thorn Park's effort.

"He will appreciate the 1600m of the Guineas," he said. "He probably got further back than he should have been."

Thorn Park suffered a hefty bump on the home turn when Hardrada shouldered Jeremiad out on to it and despite the incident still worked steadily to the line.

"He had to make up a lot of ground and he was second-up with three weeks between runs," jockey Darren Beadman said.

Beadman told stewards Thorn Park was unable to sustain its run over the concluding stages but felt normal upon pulling up.

A veterinary examination, however, revealed the colt had a slower recovery rate than normal but otherwise failed to reveal any abnormality.