Trainer Kelly Schweida is hoping the addition of blinkers and a tongue tie will help boost the chances of Miss Cover Girl returning to the winner’s stall in the Listed $150,000 Better Than Ready Silk Stocking (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Miss Cover Girl will wear the blinkers for the first time in the Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Miss Cover Girl will be having her first run since finishing less than two lengths from the winner when fifth to Amicus in the Group 2 $175,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders NSW Breeders Classic (1200m) at Randwick on February 6.
Schweida was happy with that effort but the four year mare hasn’t picked up a winning cheque since her victory in the Group 3 $200,000 Dilmah Tea P J Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
“I was initially hesitant about putting the blinkers on her but she seems to go well in them in work,’’ Schweida said.
“She had no luck in the Classic and finished less than two lengths from the winner.”
“At her start before that in Sydney she was third in a three-way photo in the Nivison Stakes and at her only other run there she won the P J Bell Stakes.
“In other words she has been right there with the better southern mares.”
Miss Cover Girl is a winner on the tricky Gold Coast track on three occasions and coming up with barrier two in the fifteen horse field has added to Schweida’s confidence.
“An ace up her sleeve is the barrier (two) because she hasn’t had much luck with barrier draws for quite a while,” Schweida said.
“’I’d be hoping she would be about fourth or fifth in the run and be within striking distance of the leaders.
“The fact that she hasn’t won (since last April) is a bit of a concern, but everything does seem to be going well with her. I thought she trialled nicely enough for this in what was a really hot trial.’’
Saturday’s jockey Glen Colless has ridden Miss Cover Girl on five previous occasions and will be hoping to record their first win together in the Silk Stocking.
Miss Cover Girl is well in the betting for the Silk Stocking at $8 with Ladbrokes.com.au who have the Luke Oliver trained mare Jessy Bell as the $5 favourite.
Also well in contention at $6 are the Tony Gollan trained Tina Melina and Sydney mare Miss Tenpins ahead of Steven O’Dea’s Beatniks at $9.50.
Silk Stocking market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5.50 Jessy Belle, $6 Tina Melina, Miss Tenpins, $8 Miss Cover Girl, $9.50 Beatniks, $10 Eloping, $12 Zestful, $15 Bring Me The Maid, Traveston Girl, $16 Sarisara, $21 Rosenet, $26 Adorabubble, Groovy Gal, $71 Crooked Stick, $81 Star Drop
