Geelong trainer Heath Conners is confident well-bred mare Fashion can redeem herself with an overdue victory in the Gold Bracelet at Bendigo.
The daughter of Encosta De Lago and 2001 Blue Diamond Stakes winner True Jewels has only won twice in 21 starts but looks well placed to improve her record in Saturday’s $90,000 event over 1400 metres.
“It’s a massive drop in class for her and I’m going into the race very confidently,” Conners said.
Fashion was placed in Adelaide’s Listed Laelia Stakes (1600m) in May last year and this campaign has encouraging form in Group Three races including two starts ago when a 2-1/2 length fifth to Hi Belle in last month’s Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Hopes that she would break through for her first feature win last start were dashed when she was hampered and lost ground at the start in the PFD Food Services Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 3.
“She drew barrier one and when she gave it away she ended up being ridden back-to-front,” Conners said.
“It was disappointing as we were hoping that she would box seat in the race but she was back second last and giving them eight lengths around the turn.
“They ran it at a genuine speed and then they took off, and when you are in that grade there is no way in the world you are going to catch them.”
Conners’ confidence is fuelled, in part, by the significant weight advantage Fashion has over topweight I’m Discreet.
I’m Discreet was second in the Mannerism but only finished a half-length in front of Fashion who meets her 6.5kg better.
Fashion also meets Mannerism fifth-placegetter Princess Narine a half-kilo better while she easily beat eighth-placed Invincible You who she again meets on the minimum weight.
Fashion, whose last win was at Flemington in April last year, will be ridden by Chris Symons on Saturday after he partnered her at her last two starts.
“I know she (Fashion) is better than what she showed last start and I’m happy to take her to Bendigo,” Conners said.
“She’s drawn a nice barrier (six) on a nice big track which she will like and she should run over the top of them.”
