A back in form Traveston Girl is on target for the $1m Magic Millions Trophy (1800m) at the Gold Coast on January 9 after returning to the winner’s circle at Doomben last Saturday.
Recogintion Stakes winner Traveston Girl will be set for the Magic Millions Trophy at the Gold Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Premier trainer Tony Gollan was relieved to see Traveston Girl win her first race since her two year old days back in July 2014 and can now confidently map out a Summer program after the mare scored a one and a half lengths win in the Listed $100,000 Tattersall’s Recognition Stakes (1600m).
“This time she’s come back super. She was as fat as a whale first up and we didn’t expect her to win and then the trip away to Melbourne did her the world of good,” Gollan told The Courier-Mail.
“She’s come back in superb order and she’s still got improvement to come.”
“I’ve got no doubt she will get 2000m in time.”
“She has to run along at a good tempo in front because she can run time. She gave everything else a chance to beat her, but she was too good for them.”
Traveston Girl’s next start will be in the Listed $100,000 Brisbane Handicap (1600m) at Doomben on December 5 before heading to the Listed $175,000 Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Doomben on December 19.
Traveston Girl kicked off her current campaign with a first up third in a 1200m Class 6 at Doomben on October 17.
Gollan then sent her to Melbourne for one run where she ran fifth to Scarlet Billows in the Group 3 $200,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
Traveston Girl proved to be one of the star three year old fillies during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival when she ran second to Amicus in the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
But the Flying Spur filly struggled to find her best form during the 2015 Brisbane Winter Carnival which produced a third in the Group 3 $125,000 Attwood Marshall Lawyers Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) at the Gold Coast and another third to I’ve Got The Looks in the Listed $100,000 Designline Graphics Juanmo Stakes (1200m) at Doomben.
Last Saturday’s winning jockey Tegan Harrison was also thrilled to get Traveston Girl back into winning form following her string of outs.
“It’s great to get this mare back in winning form. Tony is adamant she is one of his best horses and I think he’s right in thinking she will have no trouble stretching over more ground,” Harrison said.
“The key to her is using her tactical speed and roll along at a good clip in front.”
The Recognition Stakes was Traveston Girl’s third win from thirteen starts and took her prizemoney earnings to $247,450.
