Mare Of The Month Title Up For Grabs

MARE OF THE MONTH TITLE UP FOR GRABS

The Changeover Monthly mares bonus looks set to go down to the wire, with several chances in the running as the last Saturday meeting for February is decided.

A service to Changeover thanks to Garrards Horse and Hound is up for grabs, awarded to the mare that accrues the most points in mare’s races on a Saturday night throughout each month.

The Jack Butler trained Vindicate holds all the aces in chasing the February bonus, holding a one-point lead over the Nathan Rothwell trained Playa Blanca and another Butler trained mare in Bettor Romance.

However, Playa Blanca and Bettor Romance will be unable to reel in the leader as neither are engaged to do battle this Saturday night.

After settling three back along the inside last week, Vindicate sprouted wings in the stretch to claim victory and after placings in the first two Saturdays of the month, leads the chase for the bonus on six points.

If Vindicate finishes unplaced this week, Lulu Lucifer or Girl From Rosedale can leapfrog Butler’s seven-year-old to claim the bonus if they were victorious, likewise, if Forgive Me wins race seven, connections of the Peter Greig trained mare could potentially take the bonus.

Race three is the Garrards Horse & Hound February NR70 Final and looks set to be a great battle.

Sir Brigadoon has drawn poorly in gate seven for trainer Graham Dwyer, however the six-year-old has been faultless in three runs since arriving in Queensland, breaking 1.55 in all three, including a passing lane victory at Redcliffe to qualify for this Final.

Dwyer will unleash a three-prong attack on the race, his three runners drawn the outside three gates off the front line- Luxury Lad (5), Kickatinalongpony (6) and Sir Brigadoon (7).

“I have a lot of time for ‘Pony’ but I also think Sir Brigadoon is right in this, despite the gate and he has worked super since the heat win,” Dwyer said.

The Beauden Blues will also face a tough gate for Pete McMullen, the four-year-old finishing as the runner-up in the January edition, doing all the work in the run before being collared in the last strides by Bangkok Deejay.

Despite being super consistent and contesting several features during his three-year-old term, the Chantal Turpin trained pacer will be hoping to increase his win strike-rate at The Creek which currently sits at two from 16, the most recent of those back in September.

Race four will see the return of Speak The Truth, the Shannon Price trained five-year-old drawing wide in gate seven in the Aqwa Constructions Band 2-4 Pace.

First up since the Inter Dominion Final, Speak The Truth trialled at Redcliffe behind stablemate Sure Thing Captain on Monday night and a solid race performance will fortify plans to head south for a potential tilt at the Miracle Mile.

It will be just the third time since returning for his four-year-old season that Speak The Truth will have contested a race over the Albion Park 1660 metre journey.

Winning first up in April 2023 in a sizzling 1.51.9, his only other appearance for the season over the trip was in the Inter Dominion Heats when seventh behind Leap To Fame.

The last race of the night will see a number the Turpin stables talented three-year-olds stepping out, with last start Group 1 Triad winner Rylee Rhayne Bow drawn the widest of the small field.

Shes Fullofpsirit could be in for a big season, the three-year-old filly resuming from gate two with the State’s premiership leading driver, Angus Garrard, handed the reins.

A two-time winner last season, a smart trial from the filly has her ready to tackle the 2138 metre trip first up, with four of the six runners stepping out over the middle trip for the first time.

Race 1 is set to jump at 5.34pm with the last, race 10, scheduled for 10.44pm.