Tennessee Spirit, once a rapid performer, has refined her speed under the tutelage of trainer Toby Lake.
Following a recent victory on the Ballarat synthetic track, Tennessee Spirit is set to compete in the Sportsbet Green Tick Handicap (1000m) at Morphettville Parks in Adelaide this Saturday.
Initially with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Tennessee Spirit was transferred to Luke Fernie in Perth without having raced.
After securing three placings in Perth, the filly was offered for sale, and Lake acquired her for a syndicate of clients.
“She had shown good ability over in Perth and was a leading fancy for a Stakes race over there,” Lake remarked.
“She showed blistering speed and I thought if we could harness that speed and teach her to finish off, it may work for us.”
Tennessee Spirit finished second on her Victorian debut at Caulfield Heath and subsequently encountered a very wet track at Wangaratta, where Lake noted the filly struggled to maintain momentum.
The addition of blinkers preceded her win on the Ballarat synthetic on June 26. In her subsequent start, also on the synthetic at Ballarat, she was involved in a fast-paced affair but faded to fourth.
“We had blinkers on for her maiden and then the start after, but that run, they went too hard and just blew her up,” Lake explained.
“We took the blinkers off, gave her a couple of trials to teach her to settle and she came out to win well last time, sitting back off them.
“I think she’s found a really suitable race on Saturday.
“She’s in well at the weights, gets a claim, has a good draw. There looks good speed and she should get that nice run again and being 1000 metres on the Parks track, it will suit.”
As a daughter of Capitalist and the Lope De Vega mare Pomelo, a city win would enhance her credentials, given she is already a dual winner.
“She’s well bred, so to get a city win, it will help her,” Lake stated.
“She’ll head over to Adelaide in good order, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.”
Check out the latest Australian betting sites for this exciting race.