It may have been a Friday night at the Valley and harder things are in store but Malua have done an outstanding job to get Set To Skelter to the races and win last Friday night, as well as a heap of great recent results!
She looked like she had gone ten rounds with Johnny Famechon before the race, had a wide run throughout, looked to be done cold on the corner by a horse with strong registered form, but still was able to get half a length clear to win with some conviction.
Connections have waited four years for this daughter of Reset and full sister to former Lloyd Williams stayer Module to hit the racetrack and she certainly has given them an exciting start to her racing with this fighting win at just her second trip to a racetrack. She has been a fiery type from the get go and according to her strapper Krystal was just that from the time she stepped off the truck until the time she got back home to Flemington.
Rearing in the barriers, she hit her head and subsequently survived a vet check to take her place in the race. Damien had no luck trying to get across in front after she began brilliantly from the gates and was first away. He then had no luck easing back to slot in and was forced to sit wide and try to conserve some sort of a breather for the finish. Godiva Rock, who was first up after a failed follow up prep to her Group 1 placed two year old season, surged up around her on the corner and you could only hope we could hang on for a place. Set To Skelter obviously has some natural running ability and a big will to win as she then proceeded to pull out the fight inside and incredibly was able to find half a length on the line after pretty much being headed in the straight.
As a racehorse there are obvious areas where improvement can follow, but to come to town second start in a race and beat a horse like that, it does shape as an entertaining ride ahead for connections and staff at Malua.
