Trainer John McArdle and his promising filly My Gladiola head back to Flemington with hopes of securing a stakes win on the straight track.
The Listed VRC Sprint Classic (1100m) this Saturday offers My Gladiola a chance to claim victory following two efforts along the Flemington straight this preparation.
McArdle remains sore from the shocking Newmarket Handicap, where My Gladiola started as the $4.80 second favourite yet couldn’t feature, finishing tenth behind Caballus.
The Group 1 contest over 1200m against seasoned sprinters on March 7 marked the initial occasion My Gladiola raced without Jamie Mott during her 10-start record, which includes two triumphs and six placings.
McArdle indicated My Gladiola’s Newmarket Handicap ended right at the barriers.
“She came out of the run no problems, but it was a complete disaster from the start,” McArdle said.
“We’ve just got to forget it happened and we start again.
“It was looking good leading up to the race, but as soon as they jumped it all went pear-shaped, but she came through it well, which is the main thing.
“A half-million-dollar race down the straight over 1100 metres, it should be ideal for her.
“We’ll lick our wounds and go back and have another go.”
My Gladiola carries 56.5kg on Saturday with Mott resuming after the 50.5kg in the Newmarket fell short of his usual scale.
Post-Saturday, McArdle targets the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on April 25.
A Group 1 success remains absent from My Gladiola’s resume, despite two runner-up finishes to Tentyris on the Flemington straight at top level.
“The Sangster should be a good race,” McArdle said.
“She’ll get in with 54-½ (kilos), and Jamie can ride her in both races,” McArdle said.
“He knows her well and hopefully it will work out better than what her last run did.
“It’s four weeks after Saturday to the Sangster. She’ll have a trial in between and she should be good to go.”
McArdle noted My Gladiola is unlikely to follow up two weeks post-Sangster into the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 9.
“She hasn’t had a good record of backing up in two weeks, but we’ll decide that after she runs in the Sangster,” McArdle said.
“If she runs well, she’ll probably get put away to get ready for the spring.”
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