Bargain buy continues winning run

She was only a $1,750 weanling purchase but the Jarrod Austin-conditioned Terra Mater ($2.70F) has kept the ball rolling with her third victory from as many starts this preparation.

The Wandjina progeny was too strong for second favourite African Daisy ($4) by a length and a quarter with Rocketeer Girl ($6) a further length back in third.

Austin, who recently retired his stable star Looks Like Elvis, was grateful to have another handy one in the barn.

“We’ve been lucky or fortunate the whole way through, we’ve always had one horse that’s been able to come to the city and race for us on a Saturday,” Austin said.

“We’re only a small team and we don’t spend much at the yearling sales, we just rely on other people to give us horses or buy cheap horses and go from there.

“She’s come along at a fantastic time with him retiring, we’ve got another one to keep our name up in lights.”

When quizzed as to what’s next for his mare, Austin was hopeful of achieving valuable black type.

“It’s now becoming a bit more of a realistic goal to set towards,” Austin said.

“As we came into the start of this preparation and just thought ‘OK we’ve got ourselves a horse that can win a Saturday race if she can improve’, which she has, and she just keeps jumping over the bar.”

Terra Mater was given a beautiful run in transit by hoop Nash Rawiller, sitting just off the speed with the two leaders taking each other on, and believes his mount can take the next steps.

“Even though they were going hard we were able to get into a lovely rhythm and she was going to be very hard to beat today,” Rawiller said.

“She’s got a motor as big as herself.

“I think she’s been placed beautifully. I think next prep she’s going to be placed to advantage now.