Du Plessis Confident Telepathic Can Win Grand Prix Stakes

Leading New Zealand jockey Mark Du Plessis is confident that Telepathic is good enough to record her maiden race win in Australia in the 2014 Grand Prix Stakesat Doomben on Saturday.

Telepathic finished second behind Amexed in her Australian racing debut in the Rough Habit Plate.

Telepathic finished second behind Amexed in her Australian racing debut in the Rough Habit Plate. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Telepathic made her Australian racing debut with a fast-finishing second behind Amexed in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on May 10 and Du Plessis is hoping that the daughter of Mossman can produce a similar performance in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) this weekend.

“In the Rough Habit she was drawn better, but we had to go back being her first trip over ground,” Du Plessis told The New Zealand Racing Desk. 

“She has a very explosive turn-of-foot as everybody knows and there is no point taking that away from her.

“She hit the line really hard that day, wasn’t beaten far and has improved from that run.

“I am hoping to see a very similar run.

“She has gone forward from that last run and is more than capable of winning a race like this.”

Telepathic will jump towards the outside of the Grand Prix Stakes field after drawing barrier 14 for the Group 3 event and Du Plessis admits that he was slightly disappointed when he saw the barrier draw.

The in-form hoop said that he will be forced to settle Telepathic further back in the field than he would have liked, but said that there is no point pushing forward on the three-year-old and giving her a gut-busting run before the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7.

“She is not a go forward filly anyway, but I was looking for a better draw to get a softer trip,” Du Plessis said.

“She is probably going to have to go further back than I would have liked, but you never know, we might get a bit of luck.

“She has gone forward from that last run and is more than capable of winning a race like this.

“We don’t want to be riding her upside down this week just to get in a spot and I’m pretty sure that (trainer) Donna (Logan) would be of the same view that she needs to be ridden a little colder to get home, whether she wins or not.

“If she is hitting the line well she will be looking forward to the extra 200 metres in the Derby two weeks later.”

Telepathic is currently on the second line of Grand Prix Stakes betting markets, at odds of $4.20, while Amexed remains a narrow favourite at a quote of $4.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.