Punters got it right in the opening race on Silver Slipper day at Rosehill with favourite Detours fighting back after being headed to defeat her Darley-owned stablemate Aerobatics.
Aerobatics opened $2.60 on track in the Edmen Community Staffing Handicap (1200m) but drifted to $3.70 with Detours jumping as the $2.30 favourite in the field of five.
Detours tracked leader Big Bonanza during the run with Aerobatics following her stablemate in third place.
Jockey Corey Brown moved up quickly on Aerobatics to hit the front at the 300-metre mark but premiership-leading hoop Hugh Bowman never panicked on the favourite and Detours was the stronger to the line to win by three-quarters of a length.
The resuming Revolt ($6.50), who won four in a row last preparation, did his best work late to finish two lengths away third.
Bowman, who notched his 55th metropolitan winner of the season, said the stakes-placed Detours kicked strongly when she was asked to respond to the challenge from Aerobatics.
“It was a good tradesmanlike performance,” Bowman said.
“She’s a black-type filly. She’s not a Group One filly but she’s a black-type filly who makes her own luck in races.
“I was worried when Aerobatics came to me that quickly but when she only got a neck in front I wasn’t too worried because I still had a bit left in the tank.
“When I asked her for her full effort she responded.”
Trainer Peter Snowden has always had a good opinion of runner-up Aerobatics and the trainer’s Sydney representative Brad Widdup believes this preparation will be the making of her.
“She hasn’t won today but she needs racing and she’s racing a lot better,” Widdup said.
“She’ll be better in a bigger field with more speed on and she probably got there too soon today.
“It’s disappointing she didn’t win (with the run she had) but she ran well.”