Trainer Gai Waterhouse has confirmed that the 2015 Stradbroke Handicap will be the major autumn goal for Sweet Idea and she said that she will be working back from the Group 1 event at Doomben on June 6 to work out the autumn path for the talented mare.
Sweet Idea is still chasing an elusive win at Group 1 level. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Sweet Idea was sent to the spelling paddock after she finished a close second behind Bonaria in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on November 1, but she has started preparation for her autumn campaign that will be centered around a trip to Queensland for races like the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) and the Stradbroke Handicap.
Waterhouse told Sky Racing HQ that she is thrilled with the physical condition of Sweet Idea and she is hopeful that the daughter of Snitzel will finally be able to record a maiden win at the highest level of racing.
“She has just returned from a spell and she has done a treat,” Waterhouse said.
“She looks really, really well and she is a really serious big mare now.
“Not big like she is big and fat, but she is like a war horse.
“Those mares when they get older they get that solid condition on them and she looks great.
“Her final aim is the Stradbroke and I will be working back from the Stradbroke to try and gain the elusive Group 1 that this mare deserves.
“She has got her foot very much on the till.”
Sweet Idea has been a consistent performer at the highest level of racing since she made her racing debut in the TAB Sprint Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick in October of 2012, but she has been unable to add a Group 1 win to her resume.
She finished third behind stablemate Overreach in the 2013 edition of the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) and the following autumn she was narrowly denied by Steps In Time in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1400m) before she finished ninth in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
Sweet Idea returned to Group 1 level when she finished second behind Dissident in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last August and she was a credible fourth in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on September 28 before she finished second in the Myer Classic.
The Snitzel mare has recorded seven wins from her 18 career starts and has accumulated over $2 million in prizemoney for connections.
