Top young driver Jack Trainor and star mare Stylish Memphis are primed to add some serious Kiwi favour into Menangle’s Carnival of Miracles.
Despite lining-up for her fourth feature race in as many weeks, Trainor says Stylish Memphis is thriving and in career-best form heading into the $200,000 Group 1 Ladyship Mile at Menangle.
“I didn’t quite know how to feel last week. I came off the track thrilled with her run, but gutted with the result if you know what I mean,” Trainor said. “You don’t go any better than she went and only finished fourth.”
Stylish Memphis settled last from her outside draw in the Chariots Of Fire and roared home in closing splits of 52.8 and 25.5sec to finish on the heels of the winner Expensive Ego.
The Mark Jones-trained mare has drawn only slightly better (gate nine) in the Ladyship, but will come into seven if the emergencies come out and Trainor thinks this is a slight drop in class.
“You’d have to say although it’s a strong race, it’s not as strong as the Chariots last week,” he said.
“You have to respect Maajida, who will be fitter for her good first-up win last week, and Bettor Enforce is the obvious benchmark, but she was disappointing last week and will have to turn it around quickly.”
Trainor said Stylish Memphis was enjoying her hectic schedule.
“That was my first worry after last week, had she run her Grand Final a week before the Ladyship? But, no, all the signs say she’s as good if not better than this time last week,” he said.
“She had a couple of days on the water walker and is back full of herself again.
“If she runs up to last week and can settle closer to them, which she should from the draw, I’m sure she’ll be hard to hold out.”
Trainor also has a key drive in the $200,000 Group 1 NSW Oaks aboard speedy local filly Anntonia.
“She went great in the heat after having to sit parked, which is the one spot you don’t want to be on speed filly like her,” he said.
“Barrier one isn’t ideal because she’s not quick out, but then again, sitting three or even four fence won’t be bad if they go hard and she can see daylight late.
“She’s so super quick, especially her straight line speed. If she’s within striking distance and gets a crack at them, she’ll give it a real shake.”
