Forward-thinking in Girl’s Stakes bid
TEAM Edmonds is planning for Vanna Girl to be ridden more forward and be ready to strike in the last plank of a spring campaign when she races in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Trent Edmonds says three of the Gold Coast mare’s four spring runs have been “nonevents”, including when getting a mile off them in the Epsom in Sydney and being luckless in the Craven Plate.
She was well back again in last Saturday’s Group I Empire Rose Stakes, shuffled away on the fence and not getting clean air but was strong late when Hugh Bowman was finally able to produce her.
Trent Edmonds is convinced Vanna Girl’s ninthplaced run behind Shout The Bar was far better that it looked on paper.
Now stepping from 1600m to 2000m, she may naturally find herself closer in the run but there will also be extra intent from Bowman not to get too far off them.
“Hughie said she didn’t have the sprint of some of those others over 1600m last Saturday, but he was stoked by the run and can’t wait to get her to the 2000(m),” said Trent Edmonds, who trains with father Toby.
“She will be more forward and we wanted to do that the other day if we could.
“Hopefully she will be fourth or fifth in the run and within striking distance late.”
Vanna Girl produced three stakes wins in the Brisbane winter, the last of which was in the Group 2 The Roses.
The Edmonds were convinced she would be a serious spring contender, potentially even in such races as the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate.
That hasn’t gone to plan, but they have not been swayed from their belief she is a high-calibre mare. Bookies also fancy her chances on Saturday, making her the $6 second favourite behind fourthplaced Empire Rose Stakes finisher Chaillot ($4).
“I’ve still got no doubt she is top-class,” Edmonds said.
“What maybe has changed is that brilliance she had as a three-year-old filly is not quite there taking on all-comers.
“Her campaign certainly has not gone to script, but I’m sure she will be at her best at the 2000m on Saturday and even beyond in the future.”
Vanna Girl will be heading home to the Gold Coast after her run on Saturday and will be prepared for the autumn and winter carnivals.