Overstay and Craig Williams power away to win in emphatic fashion at Bendigo on Thursday 17th September 2015

Following 3 metropolitan race starts - Overstay had her first start in maiden grade and at country level - and while she took on some promising 3yos and older horses she was well supported pre race having shown form against some highly talented Spring fillies.

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From an awkward draw she jumped away well for Craig Williams who after challenging for the early lead was able to settle the still inexperienced filly midfield with cover and she travelled well enough. In a stop-start race, Craig made an early move on Overstay who was "never going to get beat" and while she travelled up wide and hit the front a long way out the Global Group 1 winning jockey left plenty in the tank and a couple of taps with the whip saw the filly respond, extend and ran away to win well by 3 lengths and give her owners plenty of cause for excitement at what level she may reach.

"She's got so much scope. What I felt today was she has no idea yet and she's got so much upside" said the champion hoop.

"I was going to win the race a long way out. I nursed her for a bit... she lengthened late and put them away, she's got some much scope" said Williams. "Whether you put her away for the Autumn or go again she's going to make a lovely filly"

The $230,000 Melbourne Premier Yearling purchase was always a filly the stable had high hopes for. She was given her debut at Flemington for experience as a 2-year-old before running a super race first-up in the Spring behind Alaskan Rose at Sandown. The lightly framed filly shapes as though whatever she achieves in the Spring will only benefit her in the Autumn and the stable made the call to drop her back in grade and build her confidence and that plan came off perfectly on Thursday.

"She's a delicate flower. She'll either bloom now in the Spring or wilt away - I'm not sure yet but she's got a very bright future once she does bloom" said co-trainer Mat Ellerton on Thursday after the race.

Well the good news has followed since with co-trainer Simon Zahra confirming Overstay had "pulled-up enormous and we'll continue into the Spring and who knows if she keeps going the right way we might end up in an Oaks"

"Ideally, we'll give her another interim step before taking her to Stakes level and testing her against the best 3-year-old fillies. The Oaks is still six weeks away so its all about managing her through to that race but if she continues to improve she's got a nice sense of timing about her"

Overstay has a great group of new and existing FLR clients and her win was celebrated Australia-wide. "She's got owners from Queensland including Palm Cove, New South Wales, across Victoria including our great friends at Woodside Park and Willaroon Farm as well as a few lucky owners like Louise Mancinelli of Brazen Beau fame and Wayne Olver, John Guscic and Pat Lennon of Face Forward fame so fingers crossed they're struck another nice one."

"It's also fantastic for Peter & Janice Laidlaw who have been with FLR since Day 1, Alex Chalmers of Epic Saga fame and Gezza Liddell from Alitaka so fingers crossed the wins keep coming." said FLR's Tim Wilson.

"There was also good representation on track from Steve Watkins, Matty Tillett plus Terry Clonan and son Dave and no doubt her fan club will grow and grow and as she gets deeper into the Spring. Tim Harvey and the boys probably only just recovered from those celebration before rolling into St Bernards FC Grand Final celebrations on Sunday haha"

Ovestay continues a nice affinity with Bendigo for the FLR team joining Sweet Starlett, Beltum and Hamam (twice) as Bendigo winners.

Congratulations to: First Light Racing, Wayne Olver, Pennie & Adrian Beard, Rhonda & Chris Henderson, Louise Mancinelli, Steve & Sally Watkins, Laidlaw Racing (Janice Laidlaw, Peter Laidlaw, Stuart Laidlaw, Karin Laidlaw), SJV Syndicate (Pat Lennon, Jane Lennon), Josie Healy, Woodside Park Syndicate (Mark Rowsthorn, Murray Tillett, Matty Upton, Gerrard Jones), Terry Clonan Syndicate (Terry Clonan, Jenny Clonan, Troy Clonan), Tim Harvey Syndicate (Tim Harvey, Saul Caddy, Liam Kavanagh), Alex Chalmers, Merwin Faria, Gerard Liddell, David Moylan