Trainer John McArdle has long held Group 1 aspirations for talented filly My Gladiola right from the time she posted her debut victory.
But those Group 1 dreams have been shattered twice, once by a poor barrier in the Blue Diamond Stakes and then by drawing an inside barrier in the Coolmore Stud Stakes down the straight at Flemington last spring.
The stars may be aligning for My Gladiola when she lines up in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
My Gladiola has drawn widest in Saturday’s field of eight as McArdle chases his third Group 1 win and first in more than 20 years.
“The outside draw suits her better than being inside,” McArdle said.
“In the Coolmore she was drawn down on the inside and had to follow Tentyris, this time she should be in clean air all the way and he will need to chase her down.”
My Gladiola has raced up the straight on three occasions, winning the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) before finishing second at her other two appearances.
A debut winner at Sandown, My Gladiola was beaten fresh at Caulfield last campaign and McArdle said the filly is a better racehorse down the Flemington straight than around the bend at Caulfield.
That was part of the reason for choosing Saturday’s race, rather than the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield next Saturday, along with regular rider Jamie Mott being able to ride My Gladiola a half-kilogram over at 54kg.
My Gladiola has not raced since running third in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in mid-November and after a three-week spell was brought back to concentrate on the two big Flemington sprints, the next one being the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on March 7.
McArdle said he would have preferred to have given My Gladiola another trial, but after a gallop at Mornington on Tuesday said she was ready to go.
“Jamie galloped her on Tuesday morning and was happy with the way she went,” McArdle said.
“We put a mate out in front of her to give her something to chase and all the data was good.
“She’s probably a touch above her racing weight, but I think that’s because she’s matured and strengthen up a bit more.
“She’s a powerful girl, but we can’t be unhappy with the way she’s got to the races, so we’ll see if she’s good enough and if she is, and runs well, then we’ll head to the Newmarket.
“Jamie’s happy with her and he’s getting down to 54 kilos to ride her.
“That gives us some confidence.”
