Gold Coast a finely cut mission
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She always goes well in a fresh state and we probably couldn’t have her going any better to be fair Tony Pike
to look around Doomben and give her the option, with Mark [co-owner Mark Wyborn] being a big Derby fan, if she goes bang, bang and looks super to either bypass the Oaks or if she wins well on Saturday risk The Roses and run in the Oaks and then the Derby a week later.”
Like Intrigue, three-time Listed winner Indecision will be ridden by Leith Innes tomorrow and Pike believes the daughter of Per Incanto is well-placed to perform at her best fresh-up.
“She trialled very well at Waipa and then had an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa last Saturday,” Pike said.
“She always goes well in a fresh state and we probably couldn’t have her going any better to be fair.
“It is a step up to Australian sprinting company, but she is against her own sex and has drawn a good gate in barrier three. If she could gain some Australian black-type before heading to stud then it would be a huge benefit for Brent and Cherry [Taylor, of Trelawney Stud, who own the mare].
“The fillies and mares are probably the best horses to take over there, there is pretty much a race for her every week for the next two months.
“There are plenty of options but it is the start of the carnival and the interstate horses are coming up so we will see where she fits in the scheme of things.”
While Pike has seven horses earmarked to travel to Brisbane on Friday he also has another couple in mind to join their stablemates a week later.
“It is just the way it has worked out,” Pike said.
“Some of the open class horses are above average and there is nothing in New Zealand for them after the Easter Handicap. We thought we would roll the dice and head over there as there are some nice options at the top-end and if you don’t quite match up there, then there are tier down options as well.
“They can winter in Queensland and have a bit of a break and then get ready for racing back here during the Christmas period.”
One of the horses in consideration to join the Queensland touring party is talented juvenile Whiskey Neat, the winner of two of three starts, who runs in tomorrow’s Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1100m) at Te Rapa.
“He trialled well and there is probably a little bit of improvement in him fitness-wise,” Pike said. “He is not fully wound-up but it is only 1100m and he is very well off at set-weights in that race.
“We could think about the Sires Produce (Group 2, 1400m) or something like that, we will just wait and see what the 2-year-olds look like up in Queensland after the weekend.”