Time the friend of Sisterhood

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable have been rewarded for their patient approach with Sisterhood after the mare registered a hard-fought first-up win at Sandown.

Lining-up for her first start since March, Sisterhood took out the Ladbrokes Yard Comments Handicap (1200m) on Wednesday.

Sent out the $2.20 bookmakers favourite under Ben Allen , Sisterhood wore down the leader Who Dares ($2.70) to score by a long head with Shakattak ($7) a further 3-½ lengths away third.

Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said the stable had been patient with the daughter of American Pharoah who is now a winner of two of her four starts.

“She had a nice break and is a mare that has continued to furnish, and she’s needed to, and she’s still got more to come,” Turnbull said.

“She shows plenty of natural talent and she’s a fast horse, but I thought she might have been a bit vulnerable at the six (furlongs, 1200m) today, but Ben rated her very well.

“She is a mare that will continue to improve.”

Sisterhood won her maiden at Pakenham back in March at her second start before making her way to Sandown to finish third before a spell.

Turnbull said the stable had elected to bypass the spring to concentrate on a summer campaign with the potential to pick up something a little strong during the autumn.

“She will be better for the time she’s had,” Turnbull said.

“She should be able to pick her way through summer and potentially next year and that’s when she could make her mark.

“I think we’ll keep her around those 1200 to 1400-metre races at the moment.

“She’s a speed horse. She travelled pretty well today and thankfully she had something to follow, but I wouldn’t be rushing to step her up too far in journey just yet.”