Newcastle trainer Grant Marshall is pleasantly surprised his much-improved mare Miss Reed has slipped under the radar in discussions surrounding Sunday’s $45,000 South Grafton Cup.
“She seems to have slipped under the guard of most people. That’s good, I’m not complaining,” Marshall said.
“We pencilled in this race for her some time back.
“She’s ready to rock.”
And while wet weather interrupted initial lead-up race plans, Marshall has the mare, rated a $17 chance, in peak order to make her presence felt in the 1600m feature.
Miss Reed really came of age at the end of her last preparation with three wins from four starts before being given a 14-week break after winning an 1800m Class 6 event at the Sunshine Coast on March 13.
“Yes, she improved a lot last preparation,” Marshall, a former foreman for Darren Smith, said.
“When I first got her the feeling was she wouldn’t get past 1350 metres, she goes too hard.
“I just took all the gear off her and restarted.
“Since she’s stepped up in distance she’s racing really well.
“She’s a big mare, big strider and not a horse that puts on a lot of condition.
“She’d had enough when she went out last time but the break did her the world of good.
“I always weigh my horses and she’s always between 536 to 518 kilos. Right now she’s 519kg, just where I want her.”
Miss Reed, by Reassure, has recorded seven wins and 16 placings from 44 starts for just shy of $100,000 in stakes.
She resumed with a 5-1/2-length fifth to Classics over 1400m at Rosehill on June 18 when coming from last.
“It was way too short for her, the South Grafton Cup is the race I’ve set her for,” Marshall said.
“She’s as bright as a button, going good. Everything’s right.
“Her work’s been good. She’s the sort of horse that can reel off a final 200-metre sectional in 10 seconds no matter what you work her over.
“She finds the line good.”
AAP TURF
