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Luckless in feature races in her two previous starts, Eternal Flame turned things around and collected a deserved first black-type victory in Saturday’s A$200,000 Gr.3 Matron Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
The New Zealand-bred daughter of Sacred Falls was already a three-time winner, but her previous appearances at stakes level had produced a sixth in the Gr.2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m), sixth in the Gr.2 Kewney Stakes (1600m), fifth in the Listed Black Pearl Stakes (1200m), fifth in the Gr.3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) and a last-start fourth in the Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m), with plenty of hard-luck stories along the way.
Saturday was finally her day. Eternal Flame settled in the back half of the field in the early stages of the race, then slid forward into a handier position in fourth and one off the rail.
Running By burst to the lead and kicked clear with 200m remaining, but Eternal Flame gradually wore her down and passed her in the final 50m to score by half a length.
"I rode her neutral out of the gates, but a spot presented itself a bit closer so I ended up rolling forward and taking it up," jockey Damian Lane said. "I thought the tempo was good throughout, which was ideal for us.
"Running By left me off the bridle early in the run home, and I wasn't sure if she was going to pick her up. But to her credit her last 100m were her best and she got the job done.
"She's just taken leaps and bounds in this preparation. She's really strengthened and is a different animal. Hopefully this isn't the ceiling for her and she can reach a higher bar again."
From 11 starts, Eternal Flame has now had four wins and a second placing. The Michael Kent-trained four-year-old has earned A$273,200 in stakes.
"We've had a great ride with this filly," part-owner Craig Williams said. "She's been so unlucky in a number of races. She might have had a few people knocking her after her last couple, but she proved herself today.
"Mick picked her out of the Ready to Run Sale in New Zealand a couple of years ago, and he took his time with her, as he does with all his horses. I think she'll be even better as a five-year-old next year. She's great to be involved with."
Kent was represented at Flemington on Saturday by Nikki Burke.
"I was happy with where she was placed in the run, although I'd probably expected her to be a pair or two further back," she said. "Coming into the straight, I thought she was going to win easily, but then the leader really kicked and she was left flat-footed for a couple of strides. But then she was very strong late and she really deserved a Group win. She arguably should have won her last two.
"I think we might give her a freshen-up now and maybe look at something in Adelaide in May."
Eternal Flame was bred by Hoofbeat Ltd and is one of five winners from seven named foals out of the Savabeel mare Suriyan. Herself a winner over 1200m, Suriyan is a three-quarter-sister to the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner and Waikato Stud stallion Noverre.
Suriyan's other foals include the multiple placegetter Tres Rapide, who is the dam of Group Three winner Kinane. Offered by Kilmore Farm at the 2021 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Eternal Flame was bought by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock for $260,000.
