AMANDA Turnbull knows firsthand what it takes to win the Gold Tiara, but the Bathurst trainer-driver is not quite sure if Now Eye See can join the list of Group 1 winners.
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It was in 2015 that Turnbull clinched the coveted prize for two-year-old fillies as she drove Pixies Parlour to success at the Bathurst Paceway.
On Wednesday night she gave herself a chance of emulating that effort when she steered Now Eye See to victory in the second of six 1,730 metres Gold Tiara heats.
Now Eye See hit the lead midway down the straight on and went on to win, booking a place in the final.
With all of the heat winners – as well as the four quickest runners-up – advancing to the decider, Turnbull’s 17th win of the season at Bathurst was an important one.
But whether or not Now Eye See will add another to her tally at next Saturday’s Gold Crown Carnival finals night remains to be seen.
“She’s a bit of a surprise package,” Turnbull said.
“She’s really slow at home, but when I take her to the races she always does really well. I just don’t know how much ability she has hidden in her.”
Going from barrier three, Now Eye See ($2.60 favourite) showed enough gate speed to take the lead in her opening strides.
Major Occasion ($5.40) soon crossed from barrier seven to relieve the favourite of the lead, but it did not worry Turnbull, who stayed close then moved late to win by two-and-a-half lengths in a 1:58.1 mile rate.
Karloo Damajor ran a respectable third for Barry Lew in a talent-stacked Hondo Grattan Sprint (1720m).