The last time quality mare Miss Gunpowder raced in Victoria she went home a winner.
That victory at Bendigo in April cam after two unsuccessful attempts in Sydney and before two unplaced runs at Morphettville during the recent carnival.
With life as a broodmare looming, Miss Gunpowder runs at Flemington on Saturday in the Rod Johnson Handicap in which she will be joined by stablemate Cool Chap.
Lindsay Park co-trainer Ben Hayes said the mare was disappointing on her interstate trips but is expecting a better showing on Saturday.
Miss Gunpowder finished 16th of the 17 runners in the Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on May 5 before running 11th in the Proud Miss Stakes two weeks later.
“She was unlucky in the Group One where she didn’t get off the bridle but in the Proud Miss she was disappointing,” Hayes said.
“We’ve brought her back to the farm and freshened her up and her work has been good.
“She’s got the ability and we’re hoping she can bounce back.”
Hayes said Cool Chap was also freshened at Lindsay Park’s country set-up at Euroa ahead of Saturday’s race.
After running second to Humidor in the Blamey Stakes at Flemington in March, Cool Chap ran sixth in the Doncaster at Randwick in April.
He had two more starts in NSW, the latest when fifth in the Scone Cup on May 11.
Hayes said the stable was eyeing the Winter Championship Series Final at Flemington on July 7.
“He’s on a path towards the final which is over a mile so we’ll probably let him find his feet over the 1400 metres on Saturday and let him charge home,” he said.
