Trainer Steve O’Dea hopes stud failure Bianca Jewel can rediscover her early promise when the four-year-old makes her comeback at Eagle Farm.
Bianca Jewel, who lines up in Saturday’s Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1200m), was retired to stud following last year’s Brisbane winter carnival but failed to get into foal when served by Darley’s Group One-winning stallion Denman.
“I was a bit disappointed when she went to stud as I didn’t think she should have been retired,” O’Dea said.
“It’s disappointing she never got into foal but in a way I’m happy cause I’ve got her back again.
“She was served a couple of times by Denman but when she didn’t get into foal we decided to bring her back into work.”
O’Dea doesn’t subscribe to the theory that Bianca Jewel hasn’t fulfilled her promise.
“She broke Calaway Gal’s class record at her first start and she’s run into some good opposition right through her career,” he said.
“It was only four starts ago that she won a Listed race (Princess Stakes) during last year’s winter carnival then we decided to try her over further ground.
“Unfortunately, she struggled past 1600 metres and didn’t run the trips.”
Bianca Jewel, who has won four of her 15 starts, failed in all three races after her Princess Stakes win – the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m), Group Three The Roses (2020m) at Doomben and Group Two Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm last winter.
“I freshened her after The Roses for the Queensland Guineas but she had had enough by then and was retired,” O’Dea said.
“The Queensland Guineas has proven to be a great form race and everything that’s come out of it has kept winning.
“In hindsight it was probably a mistake to step her up to a middle distance.”
O’Dea expects a strong performance when Bianca Jewel has her first start since the Queensland Guineas but will lower the bar with the daughter of Lion Heart this winter.
“She’s been in work a long time and was ready to race two weeks ago when the races were washed out,” he said.
“I’m expecting her to run well but if she continues to the winter we’ll just aim her for the lesser fillies and mares races up to 1600 metres this time.”
O’Dea has been training at Eagle Farm for four years after arriving from Townsville as a virtual unknown.
He came down with Kiss Me Katy who quickly confirmed O’Dea’s high assessment by winning three of her first four Brisbane starts and convinced the trainer to have a shot at the big time.
AAP TURF
