Srikandi aiming for back to back wins in Silk Stocking

Smart mare Srikandi will try to replicate her 2014 Winter Carnival successes with a win in the Listed $150,000 Silk Stocking (1200m) at the Gold Coast on April 25.

Srikandi, above winning the Glenlogan Park Stakes, is well on track for another Winter Carnival campaign after winning a Cranbourne barrier trial. Photo by Daniel Costello

Srikandi, above winning the Glenlogan Park Stakes, is well on track for another Winter Carnival campaign after winning a Cranbourne barrier trial. Photo by Daniel Costello

Srikandi became one of the stars of the Carnival when she scored a dominant win in the fillies and mares race to kick off a very successful campaign that only faulted with a third behind River Lad and Temple Of Boom in the Group 1 $1.36m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

Along the way the Ciaron Maher trained filly took out the Listed $100,000 Designline Graphics Juanmo Stakes (1200m) and the Group 3 $150,000 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) both at Doomben before starting favourite in the Stradbroke Handicap.

Maher has pencilled in the $2m Stradbroke Handicap again this year, which will be run at Doomben over 1350m on June 6 because of the ongoing reconstruction works at Eagle Farm, but will also target Doomben’s other two Group 1 sprints in the lead up to the Winter Carnival’s premier event.

Doomben’s two weight for age Group 1s, the $500,000 BTC Cup (1200m) on May 9 and the $750,000 Doomben 10000 (1350m), look well suited for Srikandi and Maher will also consider a start against the fillies and mares in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Club Tiara (1400m) at the Gold Coast on June 20.

Srikandi is well on track for her return to race track for almost nine months and after having a soft trial when sixth over 1040m at Geelong on March 30, the Dubawi mare cruised to an all the win in an 800m Cranbourne trial on Tuesday with Ben Melham in the saddle.

“She has had a long time off and she is a big round type of mare,” Maher told the Herald Sun.

“We gave her a few jump outs before her last campaign and she is coming up well.”

Srikandi has recorded six wins, a second and a third from eight starts and has earned $415,900 in prizemoney for her connections.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.