Wary of the potential pitfalls of a small field, the Chris Waller team almost had its worst fears realised when Cigar Flick was badly held up in the opening race at Randwick before a superb piece of Jason Collett riding saved the day.
With leader and race favourite Epic Proportions in front and Adam Hyeronimus aboard Misty Legend to the outside, Collett was forced to sweat on a run for Cigar Flick for much of the straight.
When a half-gap did finally present, Collett had the horse underneath him to shoulder into it and Cigar Flick ($2.45) burst clear to post an impressive three-quarters of a length win.
“I was waiting for something to happen and there wasn’t really a lot happening,” Collett said.
“I could see half a run up the inside, but I had plenty of horse. I was always going to win.
“She has dashed up probably 150 metres, hands and heels, for a tight split. A very soft win really.”
Epic Proportions ($2.10 fav) held on for second with the green Missile Defence ($21) making an encouraging debut for third, another short head away.
Waller’s stable representative Charlie Duckworth said they were expecting a strong return from Cigar Flick after she had shown promise in four starts during the autumn, highlighted by a Reisling Stakes placing behind Learning To Fly.
But they were also cautious the four-horse field could be perilous.
“We were a bit nervous. When you get a field of four they often become a tactical affair and that’s exactly what happened,” Duckworth said.
”But she was very good. She was game to take a narrow margin up the fence and when she let down she let down strongly.
“Realistically, off the races she was running in during the autumn carnival, she didn’t really need to improve much to win today.
“She’s in for a good campaign this time in and hopefully we can aim up for some bigger and better things.”
Cigar Flick is likely to progress to the first half of the four-race Princess Series, which kicks off with the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 19.