Sparkling Win for Steps in Time

Progressive mare Steps in Time (4m Danehill Dancer x Rare Insight, by O'Reilly) took another giant stride along the path to autumn riches when she thrashed a smart field of mares at Warwick Farm on Saturday to take the Listed ATC Wiggle Quality over 1400 metres by four and a half lengths. The John O’Shea trained mare strode clear in the early stages for Jim Cassidy, sitting wide on the track before being given rein and bounding away at the top of the straight. "That was a put in, take-out job,” Cassidy said. The four-year-old's win over Foxstar (5m Galileo x Foxy, by Canny Lad) provided a happy end to a challenging few days for her trainer, who lost a long-running court battle earlier in the week. "It's been well documented the week John has had,” stable foreman Bryce Heys said. "It's fitting it's her because she's tough and resilient, the man on top (Cassidy) is tough and resilient and our boss John O'Shea is tough and resilient.” Heys said "there's only one race mares in form go to at this time of year” after confirming Steps In Time would progress to the Group I Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 24. Steps in Time has won five of eight starts earning $349,750 in prizemoney and was retained to race by her breeders. She is the second living foal and first stakes-winner for Group II AJC Stan Fox Stakes winner Rare Insight (NZ). A daughter of champion sire O’Reilly, Rare Insight is a half-sister to multiple Group I winners Vision and Power and Glamour Puss, so Steps in Time is certainly bred to be a star. The last Australian bred yearlings by her sire Danehill Dancer are being offered at sales this year with five entered for the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.