Queensland target for Molly Bloom

[Wandering Eyes]

There has been a slight change in plans for Group One-winning filly Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High).

The Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner was set to tackle this Saturday’s Gr.1 NZEA New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie but will now head straight to Queensland for a three-race campaign.

“She had a busy time over the spring and summer, so we thought this was a good opportunity to take a deep breath with her,” said Andrew Scott, who trains in the filly in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan.

Initially purchased out of Seaton Park’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Wexford for $150,000, Molly Bloom went on to win three races for her syndicate of owners, including the NZ 1000 Guineas and Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), before a deal was brokered with well-known Australian owner Ozzie Kheir after the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) in January, where she ran seventh.

She immediately struck for her new connections with victory in the Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa last month.

While another Group One victory in her homeland would have been a great addition to her pedigree page, her connections felt focussing on the Queensland Winter Carnival was the best option.

“There are some good opportunities for her in Brisbane,” Scott said. “We are hoping to trial her on the ninth of April and hopefully she puts in a nice trial, and it can give us the confidence to go.

“We may even look to trial her again through May with the idea of running her on the 11^th of May in the Bracelet (Listed, 1800m) on the Gold Coast. There is The Roses (Gr.2, 2100m) and the Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m) as well, providing her form continues to improve.”

It will be a farewell tour of sorts for Wexford Stables and their gun filly, who is set to remain in Australia in the care of another trainer following her campaign.

“For our team to have a horse like her and have the opportunity to take her over and compete in races like that is what we strive to do,” Scott said.

“It will be exciting for the team to have a good chance like her. She is a staying three-year-old filly and we think she is up to the grade.

“She will head over and have her campaign and then most likely continue to race as a four-year-old in Australia.”

She is not the only stable runner heading across the Tasman, with Group One-winning sprinter Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) set to head to Perth next month to take his place in the A$4 million The Quokka (1200m) for slot holders Trackside Media.

“It’s incredibly exciting for our team to take on the Quokka,” Scott said.

“He had a very quiet trial down at Taupo and will have another trial on Thursday. That should top him off nicely and then he looks to fly out on the 7^th (April) to Sydney, and then from Sydney to Perth on the 8^th. He has got nearly 10 days in Perth to settle in before the race on the 20^th.

“We think he is best kept fresh and we are taking him over there in that form. We haven’t quite settled on a jockey, but we are looking to get that finalised within the next couple of days.

“The horse is at the top of his game and we know he has to be as he will run in an incredibly strong field.”

Meanwhile, Wexford will have strong representation at their home meeting on Wednesday, with the Matamata operation set to line-up eight runners.

“The horses having a home track advantage, it is certainly going to aid them,” Scott said.

The Sir Peter Vela-bred and owned Tomodachi (NZ) (Tarzino) will contest the Kilgravin Lodge 1400 and Scott believes the three-year-old filly can make it back-to-back wins under jockey Warren Kennedy.

“She is quite a progressive filly. She steps up to 1400m and she is genetically bred to run a staying trip. We think that she is capable with the step up to 65 grade, she has got a good amount of improvement in her.”

The stable also has plenty of time for three-year-old filly Miss Bo Peep (NZ) (Astern), who will make her debut in the Broadway Motel 1200.

“We really like Miss Bo Peep as a potential racehorse,” Scott said. “While she lacks a little in experience, we think that she has got a good load of ability. She is out of a Group One winner (Miss Raggedy Anne) and she is going to get through a good few grades. She is a really nice filly.”

Scott is also confident of bold showings from Baggio (NZ) (War Decree) in the Gregory Equine 1400 and Cash Treasure in the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m).

“Baggio doesn’t need to do much to improve to win a race after his promising debut,” he said. “Cash Treasure ran a good race on debut down in Taupo in a strong field. She has taken a good amount of improvement with that run under her belt and we are hoping she can finish in the mix tomorrow.”

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