In a dramatic reversal of running style, Fedora, who is known for running in front based on her four previous starts, came from off the pace on the inside of horses to win the 22nd running of the $900,000 Hot Line Stakes in fine fashion at Caymanas Park last Saturday.

Surprisingly, Fedora, ridden by Dane Nelson for the first time, was kept off the pace set by Simply The Best and Poison Gas for most of the way before she came with a telling run in deep stretch on the inside rails to register a comfortable two-and-a-halflength win over Girly Girly Links (Shamaree Muir) and Simply The Best (Orlando Foster) in 1:14:4 minutes.

The Restricted Allowance event for native-bred threeyear- old fillies’ non-winners of two over 1,200 metres was the first major trophy race leading up to the Classic races.

The second in the campaign,

he Thornbird Stakes is set for March 19 over 1,400 metres before the big one, the 1,000 Guineas set for April 9 over 1,600 metres. Trainer of Fedora, Richard Azan, said that the change in tactical running style was the key to his charge’s victory.

“It was a good performance by Fedora to pull off this victory. We have been training her not to be running on the lead but instead to pace herself and come from behind, and that proved to be the right move.

I am happy for her as she is a nice filly and I expect good things from her,” Azan said. “You can’t give a jockey like Dane Nelson too many instructions in riding in races like these, as he will assess during the race.

The plan, however, was to get a good break, hold her off the early pace and just make the move in the straight, and that was what happened,” he continued.

Nelson said that he was pleased with Fedora’s effort. “Well, today (Saturday) she showed guts and fighting spirit. Her performance was great and she ran according to plan.

Coming around the bend, I knew that we had the race in the bag as she was ready to go but I was waiting on the stretch run.

Coming into the lane when I asked her to go, she just blew by Simply The Best and won quite easily in the end. She won well…she won very well,” said a satisfied Nelson.

Fedora, a chestnut filly by Nuclear Wayne – Patty Girl is bred by Ham Stables Limited and owned by Milade Azan, Richard Azan, Wilbert Bagwandeen and Dr Graham Brown.