Lady Luck has finally smiled on talented filly Tale Of The Gypsy, who has been plagued by wide barriers throughout her short career to date.
The daughter of Written By has jumped from the outside gate in half of her six appearances and contended with poor draws in the other three.
Despite that, she posted a debut victory last season and finished fourth in the Group 1 Sistema (1200m), fifth in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and had no luck again when out of the money in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) earlier this month.
Tale Of The Gypsy has finally drawn a decent barrier (one) in Saturday’s Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Te Rapa with stablemates Magic Carpet and Moretothinkabout to also represent trainer Stephen Marsh.
“I rate all three and Tale Of The Gypsy was unlucky in the Group One and just kept drawing outside gates,” he said.
“Last time out, she was again caught wide with no cover.”
Magic Carpet finished third on debut on the course and added another placing last time out in a competitive maiden at Taupo.
Moretothinkabout gave a bold account of himself in his only appearance last season when he ran second at Ruakaka.
“The two boys are a lot better than maidens and I think they’re going places,” Marsh said.
“Magic Carpet has done nothing wrong and last start we had to ride him a bit upside down.
“On a bigger track, we can ride him a spot further back and I think he’ll be a lot better chasing rather than leading them up and doing the donkey work.
“We’ve changed a bit of gear on Moretothinkabout with the blinkers and tongue tie on to help him focus and the 1400m with a trial under his belt will be ideal for him.”
Marsh isn’t short on age group talent in the stable with Churmatt, a leading light after the fast start he has made to his career.
The Rotorua debut winner then finished runner-up in the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m) before a dominant last-start victory at Ellerslie.
“He’ll run on Melbourne Cup Day in a three-year-old race over 1400m back at Ellerslie,” he said.
Marsh is also delighted with stable star El Vencedor ahead of the Group 1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m), although the upcoming Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) is seen as a more ideal opportunity to add to his top-flight record.
“He had a gallop at Ellerslie and is going great, although he won’t get a track to suit him on Saturday,” he said.
“Hopefully, it doesn’t rain too much and it will be full steam ahead to the Livamol after this.”
Of his two runners in the BCD Group Sprint (1200m), Ardalio is slightly favoured over Glamour Tycoon.
“As long as it doesn’t get to a Heavy 10 they’ll run, it’s hard to split them and maybe Ardalio at the weights,” Marsh said.
She will carry 54kg in her first start since winning last season’s Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) while dual stakes winner Glamour Tycoon has 58.5kg to carry in her resuming run.
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