Retainer has extended her rich vein of form, digging deep to cap another brave on-pace display at Doomben.
She kicked back strongly to the line to hold on in a Class 5 (1640m) on Wednesday (April 15).
Sent out a $10 chance, the Stuart Kendrick‑trained mare was given a confident ride by Ben Thompson and looked to be under pressure midway down the straight as challengers ranged up on either side.
But true to her recent form, Retainer refused to yield, pinning her ears back and fighting them off to the line.
Kendrick was impressed with her toughness once again, noting the gritty way she responded when the race was in the balance.
“It was a tough win again today fighting off the challengers,” Kendrick said.
“She’s now made it four wins from her last five starts and added a very lucrative city win to her pedigree,” he said.
The victory further cements Retainer’s status as a reliable performer and highlights her versatility, with Kendrick keen to keep his options open as she progresses through the grades.
“It looks like anywhere from 1400 to 1800 might suit her,” he said.
“So we’ll see how she comes through the run over the next few days and make some decisions from there.”