Xena Fights Like A 'Warrior Princess' To Claim Win

Xena Fights Like A 'Warrior Princess' To Claim Win

May 27, 2016

Jumping away well from the gates and going forward to settle in third place, Like Xena was getting the run of the race behind Dynamic Rock, while race favourite Think Aloud had settled on her outside.

The Koby Jennings-ridden Amazon made a move to take it up to race leader Dynamic Rock, and the pair maintained their lead, while jockey Brenton Avdulla aboard Like Xena was looking confident on the rails in fourth.

Pushing forward along the rail as Think Aloud started to drift back at the 800m mark, jockey Blake Shinn who was looking for his forth winner of the day, having ridden El Sid to victory for the stable earlier in the day started to make his run on Kikongo, charging around the field to be in third and ready to pounce.

As the home bend was reached and the short Canterbury straight was presented to the field, race leader Dynamic Rock put up the white flag as Avudlla urged Like Xena off the back of the tiring leader to commence a challenge.

Just as Like Xena charged to the lead, the Joseph Pride-trained Tender came along the rail to assert a challenge.

Packing too much punch, the stable ‘Warrior Princess' Like Xena took the More Than Ready Benchmark 72 Handicap (1550m) by a head from Tender, with a further length and a half back to Dynamic Rock in third.

While it may have been over 12 months since the last win for the mare, Like Xena's  consistent overall record stands at three wins and six placed performances from 20 starts.

To view a replay of her win from Canterbury, click here.