Tough New Zealand-bred stayer Bacio Del Mist broke through for a well deserved victory in the 2300m class 1 and maiden plate at Newcastle on Saturday.
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The four-year-old mare had been runner-up in four of her past five starts at Canberra, Scone, Goulburn and Taree. Andrew Gibbons had the mount on Saturday and his patient ride on the heavy track paved the way for victory.
She was trapped four wide with a lap to run, so Gibbons eased her back to last. Bacio Del Mist lobbed along eight lengths off the pace until she started to make ground approaching the home turn. It was a tough grind down the long straight, particularly as runner-up Thailand had dashed clear.
However, as she had done in the past, the mare kept coming, and won running away at the finish. The winner was prepared by the Rosehill training partnership of Lee and Cherie Curtis.
David Atkins was the only local trainer to saddle up a winner on the program, which was reduced to six races because of poor visibility.
Atkins' filly Island Lass had raced five times on her home track before Saturday for one placing. That second placing two starts back behind Strombus on a heavy 10 track was her best performance in nine starts.
On Saturday, she ran down favourite Californiasilencer, again showing her liking for a heavy track. Talented Grafton jockey Ben Looker made a rare appearance at Newcastle to steer home the winner.
Hunter Valley hoop Mikayler Weir rode her 54th winner of the season when she was took the Taree-trained Your Temptation to an easy victory in the 1400m maiden handicap. The three-year-old put the writing on the wall with a close third on this track last start.
