By Bren O'Brien
The promising and well-related filly Deniki (Not A Single Doubt) is set for bigger and better things after breaking her maiden at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The three-quarter sister to Group 2 winner Menari weathered a determined challenge from $1.7 million colt Osamu (Exceed And Excel), to narrowly win the Vinery Stallions Plate (1100 metres), with Newsreader (Press Statement) finishing third.
It took every bit of effort for Tommy Berry to get the Mark Newnham-trained filly over the line, as Osamu challenged strongly over the last 100 metres, but she got her nose down at the right time.
Deniki was having her first start as a 3-year-old, having finished second on debut at Gosford back in February, and then fifth in midweek company at Warwick Farm in March.
Watch: Deniki win at Warwick Farm
"She got the job done and she beat a good colt. It seems 1100 metres is as far as she wants to go at the moment, just because she tends to overdo it a bit in stages," Newnham said.
"As long as she learns to contain that speed, she is going to make a really nice filly.
"She didn't shirk the task there, she got her head right out on the line and was strong right through the line."
"She didn't shirk the task there, she got her head right out on the line." - Mark Newnham
Berry agreed that race experience will only benefit Deniki, as she learns to race within herself.
"She still has to learn to control herself better mid-race. As soon as something came, she just wants to race a little bit. I thought she was beaten a couple of times, but she showed the toughness which she lacked last time in and was able to win," Berry who rode a double, said.
"For her to beat Osamu, who has a bright future and was coming back a lot in grade, and beaten him on merits, she has done very well."
Like Menari [pictured], Deniki was bred and is raced by the Altomonte family of Corumbene Stud
Like Menari, Deniki was bred and is raced by the Altomonte family of Corumbene Stud. Her dam, Isurava (General Nediym), has also produced the stakes-placed Sweet Ava (Snitzel) and is a stakes-winning sister to Group 2 winner Ichihara and Listed winner Au Chocolat.
The extended family includes multiple Group 1 winner Tie The Knot (Nassipour {USA}) and his Group 1-winning dam Whisked (Whiskey Road {USA}).
"George Altomonte is a great breeder and she is well related, and so hopefully she can go on and do a good job for us," Newnham said.
The other highlight of the day was a treble of winners for Yarraman Park's I Am Invincible, all of which were trained by Chris Waller.
Jack The Lad won the opening race, the Frosted @ Darley H. breaking his maiden, before Hulk claimed a breakthrough second win of his career in the Hyland Race Colours H.
Promising Star Thoroughbreds filly Joviality completed a treble for her sire and a hat-trick of victories for herself in the Bowerman's Commercial Furniture H.
I Am Invincible also had I Am Swerving break through for his first victory at Eagle Farm maintaining the stallion's 'winner-a-day' record with 47 individual winners in the first 47 days of the season.
