Not even winning the $30,000 Fernwood Women's Health Club Rose Bowl Handicap (1300m) could erase the disappointment Libby Hopwood endured on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Adelaide apprentice produced a wonderful ride as the Sheila Arnold-trained five-year-old mare Piclesia streeted her rivals in the feature fillies and mares event. It followed her narrow loss aboard the Paula Trenwith-trained Montego Bay behind the Neil Dyer-trained Palmyra Boy in the $45,000 Trans Territory Foods Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) on Day 2 of the Darwin Cup Carnival.
Clearly pleased after returning to scale yesterday, Hopwood, who rode The Ruffian to victory for Sheila Arnold in the Hot 100 Darwin Guineas (1600m) two Saturdays ago, gave a blunt "no" when quizzed if yesterday made up for the agony she experienced on the weekend.
However, she couldn't help but praise Piclesia - making its debut at Fannie Bay - after assuring connections of the $20,100 first prize.
"I was well placed throughout the race and she was able to relax," Hopwood said. "She cornered like a greyhound. In the end it was a good win."
Having not raced since February, Piclesia, under Sheila Arnold's tutelage in Geelong, still had strong credentials and was the punters elect at an inviting $3.70.