ASTUTE Bendigo trainer Rod Symons has pointed to Perfect War's improved race fitness as the difference between a last start second and Tuesday's win on her home track at Bendigo.
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The exciting filly turned in a brilliant front-running performance to outsmart her rivals in the 1100m three-year-old fillies maiden.
Ridden by rising star apprentice Laura Lafferty, Perfect War capitalised on her second at Swan Hill eight days previously to break through for her first win at career start number four for Symons, who has a pair of wins and a second, from his last three runners.
"When she went into her last start she'd only had eight weeks' work and I thought hopefully she improves with that under her belt - she's had a very light preparation," he told broadcaster Racing.com.
"Because of the (corona)virus we sort of thought we'd better hurry up and get her to the races and get her prepared
"It's worked out very well for (owner) Steve Ousley and all his partners. We took another horse to Swan Hill and he hurt himself that day, so they've had a tough week.
"It's good to see her come through for them."
Symons was full of praise for Lafferty, who has quickly moved to 30 wins in her first season of riding.
"It was all about getting her (Perfect War) relaxed and Laura got her to relax," he said.
"There was strong pace on. Last time she raced here (at Bendigo on October 19) she was pretty keen and overraced.
"She got a chance to relax like Swan Hill and she got to finish it off."
Perfect War's win followed not long after the brilliant performance of another of the Symons stable's exciting three-year-old fillies Kiata at Pakenham late last month.
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