No reason for concern

HE MADE his way to Globe Derby tonight thinking he “could maybe run second”, but to Stephen A’Court’s delight, he left the venue with a feature winner.

A’Court had Paige One engaged in the Allwood Sale Series Final, but a “mixed preparation” dampened his confidence in the daughter of Sunshine Beach.

Even with a perfect draw, A’Court felt Paige One was short on the fitness required to beat the $1.15 favourite, The Queen Of Heart.

“If she had another run under her belt I would’ve told Darren (Billinger, driver) to go to the front and let them catch you, but I didn’t have her as wound up as I would have liked.

“She had a mixed preparation which I felt would hold her back a bit.

“I felt she could maybe run second from the draw, but didn’t think she was ready to beat the favourite.”

To A’Court’s surprise Paige One had no trouble leading from the pole as The Queen Of Heart was restrained to the tail of the field from barrier five.

“I thought the favourite would be coming forward at the start and was surprised when she went back, which is what she did last week before coming three-wide and winning easily,” A’Court said.

With Billinger “going for home” leaving the back straight, Paige One sprinted clear before completing a seven-and-a-half metre win from The Queen Of Heart.

Justabitofheaven, a stablemate of the runner-up, was four metres away third.

Owned by the A’Court family, Paige One rated 2:00.1 over 1800 metres to take her record to three wins and five seconds from 14 starts for earnings of $27,671.

“It was a perfect front running drive from Darren,” A’Court said. “When she did happen to find the front it all fell right into her wheelhouse.

“As it was she did it on her own and won with a bit up her sleeve.”