Filly Low Key's win earns stakes race start

After an initial setback, Tim Clark was delighted to see the Tulloch Lodge filly Low Key return to winning form at Rosehill, a significant improvement from her first-up performance.

The three-year-old, who started as a short-priced favourite but was narrowly defeated by Threads on the Kensington track, has now seen that form validated. Threads has since achieved a victory at Caulfield, and Low Key's dominant front-running performance in Wednesday's TAB Plate (1400m) makes the September 9 race appear a strong form reference.

"I probably left the races the other day a little bit disappointed she did get beaten," Clark remarked.

"But looking back on it now after Threads has gone on and won a Saturday (class) race, albeit on a Sunday. It gave me a bit more confidence coming to today, knowing that form was really strong.

"She'd trained on well from her first-up run and it looked a lovely race for her."

Low Key, the $1.60 favourite, successfully dictated terms from the outset under Clark, extending her lead as they entered the home straight.

Although she began to tire in the latter stages, the filly had sufficient advantage to hold off Sapphire Legend ($8.50) by a neck, with Iommi ($5.50) a further half-neck behind.

Co-trainer Adrian Bott suggested that the filly's late flagging was due to the increase in distance from 1150m to 1400m. He highlighted her considerable ability and confirmed her next target would be the Group 3 Reginald Allen Quality (1400m) at Randwick on Everest day.

"There's a nice three-year-old fillies race over 1400 metres over the carnival for a filly like her that I think will be a nice, natural progression," Bott commented.

"It was great to see her get the job done today because I think she deserves her crack at that level.

"She might have just been out on her feet there late with that step up in trip. There was a little bit of early pressure there which she was able to withstand.

"Now, having that nice foundation and that run at the 1400 will set her up really well to take the step into that company."

Low Key, who fetched $280,000 as a yearling, is by Pinatubo from the dam Really Discreet, a winner of five races.

Get the latest betting markets for the upcoming Reginald Allen Quality.