Three year-old filly Defender was having her second start, but resuming from a lengthy
spell having finished unplaced on debut at Hawkesbury in December.Given a sweet ride by Tommy Berry from gate one, Defender proved too good, prevailing to win the 1100 metre maiden by a long head over Miss Royale, who made this race a mainstream news event when her jockey Blake Shinn lost his joddies in the run to the line revealing a bit more than he would have liked.
Retained to race by her breeders and carrying the Arrowfield colours, Defender is the second winner for Alinghi, whose first winner Line Honours is the dam of this season's promising Redoute's Choice two year-old Regatta Rebel.
Second on debut to Furnaces in the Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes, the Gai Waterhouse trained Regatta Rebel is an acceptor for the Group III Ken Russell Classic at the Gold Coast on Saturday so Alinghi's record at stud might be about to get a whole lot better.
Alinghi had another filly by Snitzel last spring and is due to foal again to the top class young sire.
