COPIAPO put daylight between herself and the opposition when she paid her first visit to the racetrack on Wednesday afternoon, giving jockey Anthony Delpech an easy ride in a Maiden Plate for Fillies and  Mares over 1200m at Clairwood.

Three-year-old Copiapo won by 5.25-lengths – a margin that could’ve been double that had Delpech pushed her – and despite beating a weak-looking field could be something special in the making.

Fitrrie and Dr Jim Hay, UK-based. (www.summerhill.co.za)

“We can’t make a full assessment until Copiapo’s raced against stronger, but I think she’s a good filly and I’m excited for her owners, Fitri and Jim Hay, who haven’t had much luck with their runners in recent years. This well-related filly could change things for them,” Mike de Kock commented from Mauritius, where he has been enjoying time off.

Copiapo, bred by Ashley Macnab and “Milli” Miliotis, was bought for R800,000 at the Emperors National Yearling Sale of 2011 and Mike said: “We bought her half-brother by Jet Master for over R3-million at Nationals last year.  He’s owned by Sheikh Hamdan of Dubai and has joined Diane and her team at Randjesfontein for pre-training.”

Copiapo is by Captain Al from Urabamba , a Fort Wood offspring who won the 2008 Gr1 Fillies Classic.