Trainer David Brideoake has confirmed that promising filly Griante will make her black type racing debut in the 2014 Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich on Saturday.
Griante will be chasing her fourth straight win in the Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Griante started her second racing campaign with a win at Benalla in the Bowls Club Plate (1206m) on February 24 and has worked her way through the grades impressively.
The Good Journey filly made her metropolitan racing debut with a narrow second behind the talented River Delta in the Geoff Murphy Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on April 19 and was able to turn-the-tables on the Peter Moody-trained filly in the Sports Cover Insures VAFA Plate (1440m) at the same venue on May 3.
Griante made it two wins on the trot in The Chase Hotel Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on May 17 before scoring an impressive all the way victory against a strong field in the Le Pine Funerals Plate (1600m) at Sandown on May 31.
Brideoake told Racing Ahead that Griante arrived in Brisbane last week ahead of the Gai Waterhouse Classic and said that he believes the three-year-old had done enough to earn an opportunity at black type level.
“We are going to accept,” Brideoake said.
“She worked this morning at Eagle Farm and I am happy with the work, so we will have a shot at it.
“I just thought that it was the logical thing to do.
“Griante has been in such good form in Melbourne and there is probably not much more program that would have suited her.
“While she was in such great shape it was worth a shot at the black type.”
Brideoake has also included High Aims in the nominations for the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) on Saturday and said that the mare will start in the $175,000 race before continuing her 2014 Queensland Winter Racing Carnival campaign in Caloundra.
The Mornington-based trainer admits that High Aims probably needs a wet track to be a winning chance in the Ipswich Cup on Saturday, but is hoping that the daughter of Southern Image takes plenty of benefit out of her maiden interstate campaign.
“She is more of a wet tracker and she will potentially stay up here a little longer and go to Caloundra and we will take it from there,” Brideoake said.
“It will be a good experience for both of them and I am quiet amazed with the way that they have adjusted.
“The whole thing good horses a lift and fingers crossed we reap some rewards on Saturday.”
