IMPRESSIVE COAST GALLOPER SETS SIGHTS ON GROUP GLORY
TALENTED Gold Coast mare Sofie’s Gold Class could back up in Saturday’s Group 3 Sapphire Stakes after her win at Doomben.
Sofie’s Gold Class came from well back in the field to win a Class 6 (1200m) in impressive style at the weekend.
Trainer Debbie Newham had picked out the $125,000 Sapphire Stakes, a 1600m race for fillies and mares at Doomben, as a target for Sofie’s Gold Class but she missed a lead-up run.
“Originally when they called off the winter carnival we were going to spell her,” Newham said.
“But then they put on some races for mares and we decided to keep her in work.
“I was planning to run her in the Dane Ripper last week but she missed the run.
“That was why we ran Saturday as she needed to run.
“The Sapphire might be a bit soon having to go from 1200m to 1600m in a week.
“I will nominate her and see how she goes this week.
“There is also the Gai Waterhouse at Ipswich but I don’t know if the track would suit her.”
The Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic, over 1350m, will be run on July 18.
Sofie’s Got Class, a sixyear-old daughter of Hard Spun, has now won six races and been placed four times from 17 starts.
“We originally thought she might be a 2000m horse the way she races but she now races best when she can get back in the field and run home strongly,” Newham said.
“One thing we learned is she can handle wet tracks as we were worried about her on it at her first run for three months. But Michael (jockey Cahill) said she had no trouble on it.”
Cahill said Sofie’s Got Class could be in line for a bigger prize.
“She is a quality mare and might win something a bit better,” he said.
Another handy Gold Coast-trained mare Ocean’s Addict will be aimed at the Grafton Cup (2300m) after her Doomben win.
“She was strong at 2200m in her at Doomben and I think a race like the Grafton Cup would suit her,” trainer Toby Edmonds said.
The $200,000 Grafton Cup will be run on July 9.