Versatile mare Gwen’s Daughter has found success on a variety of track conditions and her ability on Cambridge’s synthetic track will be tested on Wednesday.
Gwen’s Daughter has been a consistent performer for local trainer Frank Ritchie, winning three of her 18 starts, most notably one of the Stella Artois Championship Qualifier races in November.
Fresh-up since January, the El Roca mare was chased down by Martell and Swindle in the heavy conditions at Tauranga a fortnight ago and Ritchie is interested to see how she handles the new surface.
“Her run at Tauranga was satisfactory, she blew out at the finish but understandably so being her first race in a while,” he said.
“She’s improved a bit from that run and this is a good race for her, but I’m not sure that she is a synthetic track horse. She’s trialled there a couple of times, but they don’t really tell you much.
“Unfortunately, again she’s drawn the outside gate (10) and she does typically enjoy tracks with cut in the ground, but it was the perfect race for her otherwise.”
Ritchie also trained the mare’s namesake Gwen’s Rules to perform at elite level as a sprinter.
“She is quite different to her mother, Gwen’s Daughter can be a little bit antsy but not too bad, she just likes to rush to the paddock and those kinds of things. Her mother was a wonderful mare with a brilliant nature but ironically used to tie up really badly,” he said.
“I was worried that Gwen may have inherited that, but she seems not to have done so that’s a positive.”
Ritchie has engaged Kelly Myers to partner the mare and she will also ride Stunning Maire.
“She’s a funny horse, when she flies the gates and gets a head in front, she just runs herself out,” Ritchie said.
“We’ll try to get cover early, but when you’ve got a wide draw (11) you’ve got two choices either to go forward or drag back or you’ll be off the track.
“She may get a long way back which might be a bit of a problem, but she is very well and with luck she’ll run a good race too.”
His representation at the meeting is completed by Per Incanto filly Lemon Curd, who will benefit from Triston Moodley’s three-kilogram claim.
“She’s only a little thing and has a bit of ability, she’s just had horrid draws,” Ritchie said.
“She likes the synthetic, but it is really hard if you’re wide there, so I’ve gone up in distance with her to let her get into her comfort zone a bit more.
“I think this race will suit her better than last time, and she’ll certainly be competitive with the allowance.”
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