New Zealand
Bobby Mcgee hunting further stakes success
Wingatui filly Bobby Mcgee will trek south to Invercargill on Saturday where she will bid to double her stakes tally in the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1400m).
She chalked up White Robe Lodge stallion Ancient Spirit's first stakes win as a sire when taking out the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at her home track on Boxing Day and she will head into the Southland Guineas in a fresh state.
"She had a week on the walker and has progressed well," trainer Terry Kennedy said. "She is a nice filly and will get better the further she goes, she has done everything right since she has raced."
Bobby Mcgee has drawn the ace barrier on Saturday and Kennedy said she should get an ideal trip from that alley.
"She seems well, has a good barrier draw, so I think she should go well," he said. "She will get in behind them. At Invercargill you have got to be on speed, so a good draw does help."
Bobby Mcgee is rated a $6 third favourite with TAB bookmakers behind Canterbury raiders Miss Starlight ($3.10) and Luna Capella ($5.50).
Following Saturday, the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Dunedin Guineas (1600m) at Wingatui in a fortnight looms as her next target, with further black-type assignments in the offing if she continues on her current trajectory.
"There is plenty for her as long as she keeps going ahead," he said.
Kennedy will head to Ascot Park with four other runners this weekend, including last-start winner Ray's Awake, who will step up to rating 65 grade in the Shares Available Robert Dennis Racing Handicap (2200m).
"He won well last start and from a maiden to a 65 is not a really big jump over 2200m," Kennedy said. "He has done well since he last raced and he will be competitive."
Stablemate Tandia ran third first-up at Invercargill last month following a 12-month absence from the track, and Kennedy his confident she can break through for her maiden win in the Heineken Maiden (1600m).
"Tandia was super last start and is probably my better runner of the day," Kennedy said.
The Otago horseman will also line-up Kingfisher in the More FM Racing To I Do Handicap (1400m) and Manfred in the McCallums Group Maiden (1200m).
"Manfred went a good race last-start, he was in front with 100m to go and then weakened in the last little bit," Kennedy said. "He has done well since he has raced so I expect him to go a good race from the good barrier draw.
"Kingfisher went alright out here (Wingatui last week), his sectionals were good, I am just hoping the 1400m is going to help him."
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