Leading Perth owner-breeder Bob Peters won’t be setting the bar too high with Inspirational Girl and is taking a cautious approach ahead of her interstate debut on Saturday.
The six year-old mare gained a trip to Melbourne after last year’s breakout Ascot campaign that reached its peak with a Group 1 victory in the Railway Stakes (1600m).
Nestled on either side of the Railway Stakes was an Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) win and a runner-up finish to stable mate Truly Great at her previous start in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m).
The consistent daughter of Reliable Man won nine races and was placed three times from her 12 starts for Grant and Alana Williams, earning just over a million dollars in prizemoney.
Inspirational Girl kicks off her Melbourne campaign under the guidance of new trainer Danny O’Brien in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
“It’s very hard to win first up in this type of company,” Peters told Tabradio.
“She’s racing in a lot stronger company.
“She was running in ratings races just before the Railway.
“All her wins have been coming through the grades.
“She’s really only won two stakes’ races and one of them was a Railway.
“She’s up against horses who are Group 1 performers and won twice as much in stakes as her.
“It will give us a good guide to where we are at.
“Hopefully she gets better as the campaign goes along.”
Damian Lane will ride Inspirational Girl. In a 12-horse line up she jumps from barrier three.
Peters said O’Brien has been happy with Inspirational Girl’s progress since entering his stable a couple of months back.
“There’s been nothing negative and all has been good,” Peters said.
“He’s very happy with her and she’s developed a lot since her spell which she needed to do.
“She’s ready to go to the races.”
Along with stable mate Superstorm, Inspirational Girl has been nominated for the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.
Superstorm ran an eye-catching fourth to Sierra Sue in the Group 2 Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield two weeks ago.
The Sebring gelding will run in next Saturday’s Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Inspirational Girl is $6 with Tabtouch for the Memsie Stakes.
She sits behind favourite Behemoth ($4.20) and Tofane ($4.40).
Meanwhile Peters may have uncovered another potential top liner after Arcadia Grace scored an exciting win on debut at Northam this afternoon (Thursday).
