Sandown winner Plenty Of Ammo s like a Christmas present that connections have only just been able to unwrap.
The now five-year-old, having her fourth start in the Ladbrokes Odds Surge Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Wednesday, won in the style of a future Stakes winner.
Trainer Symon Wilde said barrier issues had held the mare back from racing until this year and on Wednesday Plenty Of Ammo made it three wins from as many starts for the campaign in strolling to a 4-¼ length victory.
"She had an awful fright in the barriers as a three-year-old," Wilde said.
"She went off in the gates and scared herself and it's taken us all this time, a lot of work to get her back.
"It's been a balancing act. We had to scratch her at times from inside gates and finally it feels like we're over that hump now.
"She's had three really good experiences."
Wilde, who also trains Stakes level mares Sirileo Miss and Wishlor Lass, said he had known for some time the ability Plenty Of Ammo possessed.
"We knew how good she was, but if she goes off in the gates, she's no good to anyone," Wilde said.
"She's been like the Christmas present you can't open. We had to wait for her to be ready."
Wilde said Plenty Of Ammo was likely to continue racing over the summer months in a bid to build her profile ahead of the autumn.
"I think we'll keep racing. She's five, she's only had four runs and she's sound," Wilde said.
"We can space her runs and keep going. It would be nice to get her rating up for the autumn, so we haven't got time to tip her out really.
"Some of the mares' races might be small fields coming up, so they might suit her."
