Floreana sets out on familiar path
TRAINER Mel Eggleston hopes his filly Floreana can follow in the footsteps of her dam Galapagos Girl and become a valuable broodmare one day.
But first Gold Coast-based Eggleston wants his threeyear-old to add some blacktype to her race record on a journey that began with a win on debut last month.
Floreana ($9) will run in today’s Class 1 Handicap (1200m) at the Gold Coast with in-form hoop Luke Rolls in the saddle.
It’s been five weeks since Floreana’s win over 900m at the same track and Eggleston was confident she could go back-to-back as long as course didn’t soak up too much rain before the race.
“She is pretty promising and a very good filly,” Eggleston said.
“Probably the only thing that would beat her is the track. I don’t want the track to be too wet.”
Floreana is by Group 1 winner and leading sire Snitzel out of successful broodmare Galapagos Girl, a combination that Eggleston and owners Cressfield hope will ensure her success.
“She is above average and her pedigree will drag her a long way,” Eggleston said. “I’m hoping she measures up good enough to go to NSW.”
Eggleston said a win today would likely result in a spell for Floreana who he has been mindful of easing in to racing in a bid to give her the best chance of success.
“She will probably have a spell after this run if she wins and then we will look at her future after that,” he said.
“She has been a filly that we have given a bit of time. Because she is well bred she can just keep climbing the ladder.
“She was pretty highly strung when we got her and so we have had to work a bit on her.
“She might be a nice horse in the winter up here as a three-year-old.”
Eggleston said the aim was for Floreana to get some black-type – achieved through Listed or Group race success – to enhance her prospects as a broodmare.
“Galapagos Girl is pretty valuable as a broodmare so that is what we are trying to do with Floreana,” he said.
Galapagos Girl, by Dehere, has produced five winners at stud.