THE BOSS IS BACK

El Patroness bounced back into the winner's circle at just her fourth start after a long injury layoff at Ladbrokes Park Sandown on Saturday, indicating the Oaks winner’s racing career is far from over.

Last April’s ATC Oaks winner showed her quality when she ran clear in the VOBIS Gold Heath (2100m), in a performance that has put her in line for a shot at the $500,000 Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington in four weeks.

Starting at $2.45 after late money for fourth-placed Beltoro saw him run at $2.35, El Patroness enjoyed the strong gallop after coming off a heavy track weight-for-age run against the best horses in the land, according to trainer Danny O’Brien.

“She was unlucky not to be in the finish of the Australian Cup and then it (Queen Elizabeth) turned into a sit-sprint, which exposed her against those top-line horses,” O’Brien said.

“Today, she got a really good strong gallop, and she is a very good stayer, so that suited her.”

Ridden by Jye McNeil, El Patroness took over on turning for home and she ran clear for a two-and-three-quarter length win over $41 outsider Never Again, who nosed out Tobaysure ($10).

El Patroness had a long break from racing after her Oaks triumph in Sydney last autumn after she suffered a small stress fracture to a hind pastern that simply needed time.

O’Brien said the stable had been pleased with her four runs this campaign as she has built towards a distance and said Saturday’s win showed that, after just 14 starts, her immediate future lay on the track.

“She’s only an autumn four-year-old and hasn’t done a lot of racing, so we’d like to think she’d be back for another season,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien said the mare deserved a shot at a feature race this campaign after proving her form on Saturday.

“It’s the Ramsden or up to Queensland for her,” O’Brien said. “The Ramsden is a 2800m race at Flemington, so it looks a good option,” he said.

Story by Andrew Eddy for Racing.com

Photo by Racing Pics