n-form Victorian filly Griante is on trial for a start in Saturday week’s Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) in Brisbane in the $100,000 Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) at Ipswich on Saturday.
The daughter of Good Journey heads into the race on the back of a dominant all-the-way win at Sandown which followed back-to-back victories at Caulfield.
Admitting it was originally he and co-trainer David Feek’s plan to send the filly for a spell following her last start win, David Brideoake said the three-year-old has continued to surprise this campaign.
“We believe she’s continued to improve throughout this preparation,” Brideoake said.
“Her Sandown victory was even better again than her win at Caulfield, and she came out of the race at Sandown in tip top shape so we decided to give her the opportunity at a black-type race.
“Her form has been ultra impressive. She has four wins and three seconds from eight starts, and Victorian form usually measures up pretty well up there.
“She’d have to impress me, but if she was to go very well on Saturday I would potentially run her in the Tatt’s Tiara a week later.”
Having spent most of last week in Queensland with Griante and stable mate High Aims, who lines up in Saturday’s Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m), Brideoake said the pair had thrived since making the trip north.
“They both been there ten days and have settled in well at Eagle Farm and both of them are going into their respective races in very good shape,” he said.
“There’s no doubt that it’s a very good training environment up there and horses do particularly well getting out of the cold winter down here.
“Over the years there have been a lot of horses be very competitive in the early Spring races in Melbourne after they’ve come out of a Queensland campaign.”
Drawn barrier 12 of 14 for jockey Dwayne Dunn, Griante is currently rated the $5 third-favourite with TAB, which has fellow Victorian filly Jazz Song priced the $4 top pick.
Brideoake said he wasn’t concerned by Griante dropping back in distance, and said they would leave Dunn to worry about the barrier.
“You can’t do anything about the barrier,” he said. “She’s got pretty good tactical speed and is pretty versatile to ride.
“Dwayne’s got a lot of experience on her in terms of both race experience and in training, and we don’t have much concern with her dropping back 250m.
“Griante is our best chance on Saturday. She’s in very good shape and fingers crossed she can measure up to the Queensland form.”
Birdeoake and Feek are no strangers to travelling horses north, having prepared Dance With Her to finish runner-up in both the Group 3 Premiers Cup (2200m) and Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) in 2012.
Though he is of the opinion she doesn’t have the class of a horse like Dance With Her on dry ground, Brideoake said High Aims was comparable to his former stable star should she strike her preferred conditions.
“We’re looking for wet ground with her and there seems to be a bit of rain forecast for Saturday so fingers crossed,” he said.
“She’s an exceptional wet tracker and when conditions are right she would be competitive.
“She’ll run on Saturday and then a couple of weeks later the (Listed) Caloundra Cup (2400m) is a distinct possibility.”
High Aims is currently rated a $10 chance with TAB, which has Ironstein priced the $4.80 favourite ahead of both Full Of Spirit and Garud at $6.50.
– Racing Victoria
