Starante gunning for Guineas glory
ROCKHAMPTON trainer Jamie McConachy is confident Starante is capable of pulling off a hat- trick of wins in Thursday’s Townsville Guineas after her gutsy victory in Saturday’s Fillies and Mares Bracelet.
The three- year- old filly ($ 7.90) settled midfield in the 1300m Class 6 Handicap and despite being briefly headed by runner- up Vo Treasure ($ 7.60) with a furlong left, dug deep to win by half a length.
The Rockhampton horse carried 63.5kg to win on her home track last start on July 13, and jockey Graham Kliese relished the five less kilos in transit.
“They went a little bit quick early which suited and the jockey rode a good race,” McConachy said.
“He ( Kliese) summed it all up after about two furlongs really and slotted her in.
“She’s one of those horses who if she gets into a fight, she’ll keep kick- ing. I think probably the last 30 to 40 metres that’s when she was doing her best, she’ll go to the Guineas on Thursday.”
McConachy is confident she will put herself in the mix again if she gets a good draw for the 1600m threeyear- old handicap on Thursday, her first crack at the mile distance.
“She’s going against a pretty good field but she’ll be very competitive,” McConachy said.
“She’s in good form and when a filly’s in good form they usually keep it up for a while.
“I wasn’t surprised ( she won), she’s been racing in better grades of horses.
“I think it ( extra ground) will suit her. She’s rock solid and with the pace on she worked her way into the race.
“She’s bred to stay, so she should be fine.”
Atherton jockey Wanderson D’Avila registered three wins aboard outsiders on Saturday.
It started with Monaco Rocket ($ 13.70) in the Maiden Handicap over 1400m and was followed up by winning runs on Knowing Me ($ 16.40) in the Open Handicap over 1609m and Isa Tala ($ 15.30) in the Open Handicap over 1000m.