Trainer Chris Waller believes that Group 1 winning mare Red Tracer will be tough to beat when she resumes in the Group 3 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Red Tracer will return to the races in the Golden Pendant at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Red Tracer has not been seen at the races since she recorded her breakthrough win at Group 1 level in the Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) during the 2013 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival but Waller told Racing Ahead that she fairly forward for her first-up assignment.
“It has always been her goal right from the time we turned her out,” Waller saud.
“We needed to find a starting point and we identified this race.
“She is fairly forward and I guess as forward as she can be for a 1400 metre race.
“There is no replacement for race fitness, which she doesn’t have, but she does have class.
“Despite a wide draw she will be very hard to beat.”
Red Tracer has started in outside barriers in her last three starts, the Doncaster Handicap (barrier 18), Dane Ripper Stakes (barrier 16) and Tattersall’s Tiara (barrier sixteen), and once again had no luck at the barrier draw.
The Dane Shadow mare will jump from barrier ten in the Golden Pendant, the outside gate, with Nash Rawiller on board but Waller is confident that she will be able to overcome the lackluster barrier draw.
“We will see how she jumps; last preparation we rode her conservatively from wide gates and she still finished off very well,” the leading trainer said.
“She very rarely draws a good gate, even when she won a Group 1 last start she was out in the car park, and has been aided by some good rides.
“We will just need a bit of luck.”
Adding to Waller’s confidence is the fact that Red Tracer is yet to be defeated with Rawiller on her back.
The pair combined to win the 2011 Bosco Bulldogs Handicap (1200m) and 2012 Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) before taking out the Group 3 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m), Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes and Tattersall’s Tiara last preparation.
Waller is chasing his first ever victory in the Golden Pendant.
