Top Of The Class wins on debut

Despite hitting the turn in 11th place, the Michael Lane-trained Top Of The Class grabbed a maiden win at the Bunbury Turf Club yesterday.

The debuting three-year-old filly won the $15,000 XXXX Summer Bright Maiden (1200m) by a length from New Zealand thoroughbred Single Minded Lady and the Grant and Alana Williams-trained Pinball Wizard.

It was a dominant display first up for Top Of The Class, with champion WA jockey William Pike timing his run down the straight to perfection.

Lane said he was pleased with the performance.

“She is a nice filly on the way up,” he said.

“I like the filly, she has a lot of upside.

“She is very new and had a few things which didn’t go her way in the run but she still won.”

Lane said Pike’s “conservative” ride was what Top Of The Class needed.

“He was really happy,” he said.

“He obviously liked it.”

Shaun McGruddy rode powerful gelding The Gospel Sin to win the $15,000 Alan James Maiden (1200m). In the five-year-old’s second start, he was impressive, taking the victory by more than a length from the Simon Miller-trained colt, Mantime.

The Gospel Sin has a win and a second place from just the three starts.