Madam Victoria looks too classy
The strong start to the season from trainer David Hayes’ Lindsay Park team went to a new level on Saturday with Girl Guide bringing up the stable’s fourth victory of the meeting at Caulfield.
Girl Guide’s narrow win in the Group Three Sportingbet Sprint Series Stakes followed victories from Firehouse Rock, Fast ‘N’ Rocking and Star Fashion.
“It’s certainly been a very good day and with an ounce of luck it could have been a freaky day,” Hayes, who now trains in partnership with his nephew Tom Dabernig, said. Hayes was referring to his import Spillway who started favourite in the group three Naturalism Stakes but was blocked for a run before finishing seventh.
He had been hoping Spillway would win the Naturalism to gain an automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup.
The stable also finished third in the Group One Underwood Stakes with import Crackerjack King leading for most of the way before being chased down late. Last season’s outstanding southern 3-year-old filly Madam Victoria will take her first step on a path to the Couplands Bakeries Mile at Riccarton in November when she lines up in race three at Timaru today.
Trainer Terri Rae is confident the mare, who has tasted defeat just once in her six-race career, is in fine fettle to resume and ready to pit herself against the best in this campaign.
“She seems to have come back bigger and stronger this time in as she has grown a little taller and really filled out nicely during her winter break,” she noted.
“We need to get her underway if she is going to make it to the Couplands Mile and this race fits in nicely as she will have just one more run before New Zealand Cup Week if things go to plan.
“She has been working really well and comes to hand fairly quickly, so she should be competitive today and will appreciate the better track conditions that we will likely strike.”
Madam Victoria finished her 3-year-old season with a trio of wins at listed level, which was enough to secure her the title of New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year and leading South Island 3-year-old at last Friday night’s South Island Racing Awards.
Rae will also line up Madam Victoria’s younger half-brother, Royal Dapper, in the opening event and is hopeful of a winning performance as she gets him ready for a possible group one assignment at Riccarton.