Dual Group 1 winner Srikandi will be chasing another Group 1 double during the Melbourne Spring Carnival in the Maniakto Stakes and the Darley Classic.
Srikandi is being set for a Spring Carnival G1 double in the Manikato Stakes and the Darket Classic. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Srikandi was given a nice break after returning from Queensland where she won the Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben and the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Club Tiara (1400m) at the Gold Coast during the Winter Carnival.
Trainer Ciaron Maher sent the five year old mare around in an 800m Cranbourne barrier trial today where she was unextended to run third to Mick Price’s super sprinter Lankan Rupee.
Maher said that she will give Srikandi one more barrier trial before tackling the Group 1 $1m William Hill Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 23 and then possibly the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 7.
“She’ll have another trial as we look to tighten her up,” Maher told Racenet.
“She might only have the two starts, the Manikato and the Darley Sprint.”
“She pulled up great after the Tattersall’s Tiara and spelled really well so it’s no surprise she looks so well.”
“She’s in good nick and we’re looking for a good campaign with her.”
Srikandi rose to prominence during the 2014 Queensland Winter Carnival as a three year old with wins in the Listed $150,000 Turangga Farm Silk Stocking (1200m) at the Gold Coast, the Listed $100,000 Designline Graphics Juanmo Stakes (1200m) and the Group 3 $150,000 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) both at Doomben.
Srikandi was then sent out the $6 favourite for the Stradbroke Handicap but could only manage to finish third to Sunshine Coast sprinter River Lad.
The smart sprinter took longer to get over that demanding campaign and has to miss both the Spring and Autumn Carnivals as a four year before returning to Queensland to claim a Group 1 double.
“As a three-year-old she had a long campaign, she was racing here before she went to Queensland,” Maher said.
“For a three-year-old filly, it was a fairly arduous campaign in good races so in hindsight it possibly explains why she didn’t come up in the spring.”
Srikandi has won nine of her thirteen starts and has collected over $2 million in prizemoney for her connections.
Nominations for the Manikato Stakes and the Darley Classic close at 12 noon on Tuesday September 22, 2015.
