Austin on firm ground with bargain buy Terra Mater

There is plenty of time and no pressure for emerging sprinter Terra Mater – only being a $1750 purchase as a weanling means the expectations were low from trainer Jarrod Austin, and they remain in check despite the Wandjina mare winning four times and not missing a place in 10 starts.

Terra Mater is now a four-year-old and appears set to climb to open class, and she will attempt to take the next step as an odds-on favourite in a benchmark 78 at Randwick.

A win on Saturday would leave her on the limit of getting into the rich Midway-Provincial Championships series, and that’s when Austin and the owners will make their decision.

“It is an option, but there is such good prizemoney around at this time of year for a mare in form,” Austin said. “She could get through to black-type races eventually and might even look at this preparation, but she would need to keep winning.

“We are in no hurry to make decisions with her, but she’s giving us a few options.

“If we look at The Championships it would mean freshening her up because the heats aren’t for a couple of months.”

Terra Mater, which has banked more than $200,000, appears the replacement for stable star Looks Like Elvis, which has been retired. Punters latched onto her with bets of $20,000 and $10,000 when she opened at $2.25, which soon became $1.75 for Saturday’s assignment.

“It’s the dream result with a weanling from a digital sale,” Austin said. “Elvis was such a good horse for us, and she appears to have come along at the perfect time.

“I remember when we looked at her as weanling she wasn’t that big. It was probably why we got her for a good price, but she has just kept developing with every preparation.

“She is unbeaten this time and is just that bigger, stronger mare. She went out for a spell last time and came back 30 kilos bigger in the right places.”

Terra Mater won at Canterbury before a Midway success at Randwick, where she settled back and produced a storming finish to win.

“She’s versatile and adaptable, which she has shown in her two runs this time in, and she has that will to win that you can’t buy,” Austin said. “You want to see her keep doing it, and the way she keeps improving with every run is very exciting.”

A key part of Terra Mater is having Nash Rawiller, who returns to Sydney racing after a Christmas break, in the saddle.

“To have Nash on any horse is a help, and he knows her and what she is capable of, so it’s really a case of just legging him up and let him ride her the way he wants,” Austin said. “He has faith in her turn of foot, which he used last time to win the race in a couple of strides.

“The good thing is Nash wants to stick with her.”

Austin will look for another Midway win with London, which has placings at his past three outings at Randwick.

“We bought him at the end of his last prep and he had just been gelded,” Austin said.

“He is racing more consistently since this preparation and, although this is a bit of a step up for him, I think he can measure to Saturday grade.

“The Midway is a good test for him, and it wouldn’t surprise me if gave them a scare.”

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