Adelaide trainer Leon MacDonald has hit the ground running after arriving in Sydney with talented filly Serious Speed winning the $200,000 Group Two Veolia Enviro Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.

MacDonald brought top Golden Slipper hope Augusta Proud across with Serious Speed from Adelaide and with the form both fillies are showing it could be a big Sydney autumn carnival for the veteran trainer.

Serious Speed, winner of the Group One Thousand Guineas in Victoria in the spring, resumed with a fast finishing third in the Group One Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide a fortnight ago when beating Miss Andretti, so there was plenty to like about her form coming into this.

Ridden by Craig Williams, Serious Speed settle midfield on the fence, however as is usually the case these days, most riders shifted wide coming around the turn allowing Williams and Serious Speed to save many lengths along the fence. At the 600m the pair were camped in 7th spot about four to five lengths of the lead but 200m later at the top of the straight they shared the lead with little effort. 

From that point the pair looked to have the race parcelled up before Murtajill (Bowman) chimed in at the 200m and the two battled all the way to the line, though despite the effort, Murtajill couldn’t overhaul the filly who maintained a neck advantage the entire time.

In the end the margin was a half neck to Murtajill with two lengths to Turffontein (Robl) in third. The overall time was 1.22.36 for the 1400m and the last 600m covered in 35.54. Serious Speed paid $7.90 with NSWTAB.

Owner Trevor Robertson was delighted after the event.

“We didn’t know until today how good she was I don’t think, today was her test, she has shown us plenty but we asked earlier in the week, how good is she? Today told the story, she is very good,” Robertson said.

“We will see how she pulls up. I would have thought she would run the 1600m very strongly and we think she will get a bit further later on but a mile in a fortnight will be very nice,” he said referring to the Doncaster Handicap

Williams was full of praise for the Adelaide filly after dismounting.

“I watched all the tapes and really liked what I saw, my agent was so delighted to get the run when he spoke to Leon about coming over and we could get the ride,” Williams said.

“After working her during the week she gave me a really good feel, we know what her race form is like but she is a cheeky little girl and it’s good to get to know her. I liked her acceleration and I thought she’d be quite new today but I think the barrier really helped, basically my plan was the same as Leon’s  and we had the horse to be able to do it.

“She actually got to the front too early, she showed a lot of fight, she is a good filly.”  By Royal Academy out of the Kendor mare Twitter, Serious Speed is owned by B H Perks, T J Robertson & R B Fairclough. She has a record of 10 starts for four wins and four minor placings and $753,330 in prizemoney.