The Terry Kennedy-trained mare set herself up for a big victory in race 1 after blowing the start of the 1600m maiden event.
It did not stop her from delivering a sweeping finish down the outer to nab runner-up Gerry Joyce right on the line for rider Courtney Barnes.
The way the Raise The Flag galloper kept winding up in the straight suggested she would relish an opportunity over more ground.
She is likely to get that at the South Island’s biggest week of racing, the New Zealand Cup carnival.
“It was a good effort,” Kennedy said.
“She will stay all day, so she is going to be better over more ground.
“She will probably go to Wingatui next month; there is a 2200m race for her there.”
“And after that we are looking at a 2500m race on the middle day of cup week.
“That should be ideal for her.”
Kennedy considers having two middle-distance opportunities on Raise Your Sights’ agenda a rarity.
“She is a real stayer, she just keeps going, but the problem is there have been no races for her.
“We haven’t been able to put her over more ground. There are no opportunities for staying horses here.”
After her next two starts, Raise Your Sights could again be forced to race over a distance short of her best.
It is a different scenario in Australia, where Raise The Flag’s stock have completed a brilliant past season.
The stallion’s results were headed by Etah James’ win in the Sydney Cup.
Former Otago galloper Ablaze has added to his sire’s brilliant form, having taken his career earnings past $A800,000 ($NZ860,000).
Part of the reason Raise The Flag’s progeny being so successful in Australia comes from the opportunities the smart stayers he leaves receive.
In the stallion’s home in the South Island, it was quite different and that was proving frustrating, Kennedy said.
Another Otago galloper produced a strong finish to win from off the pace at Ascot Park yesterday when Easy Habit won race 5 for rider Corey Campbell.
Trainer Nikki Blatch, who prepares the sprinter with husband Barry, admitted she was left pleasantly surprised by her horse’s 1200m victory in rating 74 company.
Not because she did not expect Easy Habit run well, but because he got so far away from his favoured position near the lead during the race.
“It is good that he can get back and finish it off because it gives you options,” Blatch said.
Easy Habit drifted off the pace in his last start at Gore and dropped out to run second-last.
The difference between that run and yesterday’s win came through the horse’s trainers altering his gear.
“We put a norton bit on him at Gore and we think he didn’t like it and he packed a sulk.”
“He had a normal lugging bit on today and seemed much happier.”
All of Easy Habit’s wins three wins have come on heavy tracks.
Blatch is hopeful the 5yr-old will be able to perform on drier tracks when he receives the opportunity in the coming weeks.
