I Am Serious breaks through at Group level

A return to racing against mares has worked wonders for I Am Serious (right) in the Angst Stakes.

After a couple of near misses in Group company, I Am Serious has appreciated the absence of Avilius to claim the Angst Stakes at Randwick.

The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old’s second and third behind Godolphin’s Avilious in the Group Three Premier’s Cup and Kingston Town Stakes stood her in good stead for the drop to Saturday’s 1600m race for mares.

Avilius won Saturday’s Bart Cummings at Flemington to gain ballot free entry to the Melbourne Cup.

I Am Serious, the $1.90 favourite in the Angst, raced in a handy position and went to the line 1-1/4 lengths in front of Mandylion ($18) with Dixie Blossoms ($4.60), winner of the past two Angst Stakes, another short half head third.

With Waller in Melbourne to oversee Winx’s Turnbull Stakes win, Charlie Duckworth represented the stable.

“She turns up every time and she is very game and very gutsy,” Duckworth said.

“She’s just been a pleasure to train and hasn’t put a foot wrong so we’re delighted for connections and thankful for their faith in us.”

I Am Serious was originally trained by Bob Haire at Taree and won her first three starts.

Haire, who still owns her with members of his family, realised her potential and sent her to the city.

Duckworth said coming back from 2000m suited the mare as did the heavy conditions.

“She’s very good on a wet track,” he said.

“She just got the dream run through. I think everyone was a little bit nervous at the point of the turn, whether she would get out, but when the gap came she took about 100 metres to go through her gears and was very strong late.”