Peter Moody’s racing manager Jeff O’Connor has revealed that Plucky Belle has thrived since arriving in Brisbane, but believes that she will need plenty of luck to win the 2014 Glenlogan Park Stakes at Doomben tomorrow.
Plucky Belle is chasing her first race win since she took out the Lavazza Short Black on Melbourne Cup Day last year. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Plucky Belle has performed consistently since returning to the races and is currently on the third line of 2014 Glenlogan Park Stakes betting markets, but O’Connor told Racing Ahead that he believes the winning chances of the Mossman mare took a hit when she drew barrier 15 for the Group 3 event this weekend.
“We are going to need a bit of luck,” O’Connor said.
“Last week it was a bit hard to make ground up in some races and that could be the same case here.
“We were hoping that the third week at Doomben it might switch around a bit and we could run on down the outside, but we will have to see how the track plays.
“At her best form she can be competitive with these.”
Plucky Belle started her autumn campaign with a most unlucky second behind Avoid Lightning in the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29 and had little luck again when fourth in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 19 before finishing second in the Group 3 Darley Crown (1300m) at Hawkesbury on May 3.
O’Connor said that Plucky Belle was the type of mare that took plenty of benefit from travelling out of her usual stable environment and had thrived in the warm weather in the Sunshine State.
“She is thriving on work and travelling,” O’Connor said.
“She has been everywhere and we just keep moving her around and she loves it and Brisbane is good for her up in the sun.
“We don’t really have any queries at all about her coping with anything like that at the moment.”
Plucky Belle will be racing in Brisbane for the first time in her career in the Glenlogan Park Stakes and is chasing her first win at Group level since she took out the Group 3 Lavazza Short Black (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year.
Srikandi remains on top of 2014 Glenlogan Park Stakes betting markets at the short price of $2.60 and is a clear favourite from Platinum Rocker ($6), Plucky Belle ($7) and Chintz ($7.50).
