Anfitriona is learning to relax in her races and that was evident when she scored a last-stride victory in the Cove Hotel Hcp (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday.

The Host filly was held up behind a wall of horses before sprinting through a gap at the furlong to beat It’s One in a head-bobbing finish.  She had won a Gosford maiden for Gerald Ryan last December prior to a transfer to Peter Moody earlier this year.

“She settled nicely back in the field,” stable jockey Luke Nolen said.  “I was hoping something would drag us into the race but we had to wait until a split came in the straight.

“A couple of gear changes have made a difference.  We added a nose-roll and a Norton-bit and she worked really well with them on Saturday morning.  On today’s win, I think she can eventually get up to 2000 metres.”

Anfitriona (3f Host – Rambling River by Rubiton) is from a half-sister to stakes winning speedster Kulgrinda and was bred by David Moodie, Nick Psaltis & Adam Sangster.  She cost Hancock Bloodstock $90,000 out of the Swettenham Stud draft at the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.

Host (Chi) has now sired the winners of 63 races in Australia this season – Anfitriona was his third this week following on from Twilight Shift (Geelong) and Genghis (Gold Coast).

Swettenham Stud will stand Host for an $8,800 (inc gst) service fee in 2014.