Hot Dipped ready to roll

QUALITY mare Hot Dipped is on target to embark on another interstate campaign following a satisfying trial in Hobart last week.

Hot Dipped has been off the scene for more than a year recovering from a leg injury, but her trainer Brendan McShane said the daughter of Written Tycoon is heading the right direction for another campaign in Melbourne.

“We’ve taken things slowly with the mare and she has responded well to the treatment we’ve applied,” McShane said.

“We took her and a stablemate [Black Jaguar] to Spreyton a few weeks ago for an exhibition-type gallop and she came through that with flying colours.

“We trialled her at Elwick last week and she ran third without being pushed out.

“The plan is to trial her again next Tuesday and this time we will put more pressure on her and see how she fares.

“I’m expecting her to relish being pushed a bit harder and provided she emerges from that trial in good order we will push on to Melbourne for a race in two weeks.”

If all goes to plan McShane said Hot Dipped would be aimed at the Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington over 1400m on September 15.

“The Let’s Elope is a Group 2 race for mares and if she is on her game it is a very suitable race,” McShane said.

Meanwhile, the Scott Brunton-trained filly Lady Pluck is on track to tackle the Group 3 Quezette Stakes over 1100m at Caulfield in a fortnight.

Lady Pluck won a maiden in Hobart two weeks ago at her second start and while she won with ease it was her only other outing when second on debut in the $150,000 Gold Sovereign for two-year-olds in February that made the pundits sit up and take notice.

Brunton has had a decent opinion of the filly from day one and has been careful not to rush her this preparation.

Brunton also is preparing his star sprinter Hellova Street for a tilt at the Group 1 $500,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on September 22.

After finishing third aboard Hellova Street a month ago at Flemington, top jockey Damian Oliver suggested to Brunton that the Sir Rupert Clarke would be an ideal next step for the gelding. Brunton has made it clear recently that his aim is to help Hellova Street top the $1 million prizemoney barrier and he only has just over $65,000 to go. CLASSY filly Derasa is close to returning to trainer Barry Campbell’s stables, with her first quest likely to be a first-up tilt at the $100,000 Listed Newmarket Handicap over 1200m in Launceston on November 21.