Naantali breaks city duck at Flemington

Damian Lane rides Naantali to victory in the VRC Recognition Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.

Naantali has shown she’s not just a wet-track performer breaking through for her maiden city win on firm ground at Flemington.

The Ciaron Maher-trained three-year-old had previously won on soft and heavy ground at Sale and Geelong but had no problems adapting to the good surface when successful in the VRC Recognition Handicap (1400m) on Saturday.

Ridden by Damian Lane, Naantali ($3.70) defeated Glayva ($9.50) by a length with Seductive Miss ($14) a long-head away third.

Maher’s assistant trainer Dave Eustace said the filly’s victories on wet ground had come around by circumstance rather than planning.

“We never felt she was a wet tracker,” Eustace said.

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“It was just coincidence that she’s won on ground with a bit of dig.

“She’s a beautiful moving filly and we’ve always felt she’d handle quick ground.”

Eustace said there was no set target for the immediate future but the stable is hoping the filly can push on into the spring and pick up some black type for her pedigree page.

“That’s a really good win for (owner) Greg Perry,” Eustace said.

“He’s a really good supporter of the stable, he’s a large breeder and she’s going to make into a lovely broodmare.”