All the hype surrounded juvenile Big Birdie and whether trainer Chris Waller could land his first winner for prominent owner Bob Ingham at Warwick Farm but it was Military Gal who upstaged the favourite with a gritty victory.The John O'Shea-trained filly, who started at $3.20, showed plenty of courage to hold off the late charge of Aultone ($4) in Wednesday's Catalan Opening Handicap (1200m).The $2.30 favourite Big Birdie, a $900,000 yearling buy who carried the famous cerise silks of the Ingham
All the hype surrounded juvenile Big Birdie and whether trainer Chris Waller could land his first winner for prominent owner Bob Ingham at Warwick Farm but it was Military Gal who upstaged the favourite with a gritty victory.
The John O'Shea-trained filly, who started at $3.20, showed plenty of courage to hold off the late charge of Aultone ($4) in Wednesday's Catalan Opening Handicap (1200m).
The $2.30 favourite Big Birdie, a $900,000 yearling buy who carried the famous cerise silks of the Inghams, struggled on the dead five surface and finished seventh.
Military Gal led to the turn before kicking strongly on straightening under Tim Clark.
The David Payne-trained Smart Lady started reeling Military Gal in with Aultone hitting top gear down the outside.
But Military Gal stuck on and won by a nose with Smart Lady a short head away third.
Among the owners of Military Gal are Sydney radio 2KY personalities Greg Radley and Terry Kennedy with the latter proudly boasting to other connections on his way to the winners' bar that he not only backed the winner but also landed the quinella.
O'Shea said there no were no grand plans for Military Gal at this stage but was very proud of her effort.
"She's just starting to learn what it's all about and we'll probably give her one more run, that was a nice effort today," O'Shea said.
There was drama before the running of the event with apprentice Tommy Berry suffering a broken nose after being thrown from his mount Mirrasalo in the parade ring.
Berry was stood down from riding and Mirrasalo was a late scratching from the race.
Meanwhile, Warwick Farm trainer Toby Edmonds looks to have a good addition to his small team in Conquering Queen.
The three-year-old started $3.20 favourite on debut and jumped well with Chris Munce on board and despite racing greenly in the closing stages held off the fast-finishing Jemison ($5) by a short neck in the Assertive Lass Maiden Handicap (1100m).
"She did plenty of things wrong today and she still got the money, she's a very nice horse, it was a big effort to carry 58kg on a track which was downgraded to a slow six," Edmonds said.
Emissary ($6) benefited from a perfect frontrunning ride by Rod Quinn when she won the Lonhro Handicap (2200m).
Trainer Guy Walter praised the evergreen hoop for his ride.
"Rod has been saying for a while that she likes to roll along and he was right, she really thrived today," Walter said.