Two Adelaide stablemates will be on trial for stakes race assignments in Tasmania when they make their first Melbourne appearances since the 2016 spring carnival.
The Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas stable has last-start Morphettville winner Pretty Punk in Saturday’s Piping Lane Handicap (2000m) at Flemington while fellow four-year-old mare Gogo Grace runs in the Tauto Handicap (1400m).
The winner of four of her 21 starts, Pretty Punk scored by 2-1/4 lengths against a small field in a 2018m benchmark 82 on December 30 at the fourth start of her campaign.
“She ran home her last 600 metres very strongly,” Macdonald said.
“Whether she is up to these horses, I’m not sure, but she’s a pretty consistent horse and has been pretty good to us.
“There’s not really a race in Adelaide that suits her and she’s getting too much weight here anyway.
“We thought we would test the water over in Melbourne and if she goes well she’s probably a chance to go to Tasmania for the Hobart Cup.”
Both Pretty Punk and Gogo Grace will be ridden by premier Melbourne jockey Craig Williams and both horses sport the same colours as Macdonald’s former star mare Southern Speed.
Williams’ association with Southern Speed was highlighted by her 2011 Caulfield Cup win.
Gogo Grace took out a 1200m benchmark race at Morphettville two starts ago before flashing home from last for second in a 1500m benchmark-75 at Gawler after a slow start.
Williams has to contend with barrier 13 of 15 on Gogo Grace who has won four of her 17 starts.
“Wide draws from the 1400 (metre start) is always a concern but she does get back and she’s got a long straight to run home in,” Macdonald said.
“I don’t think she’s well-suited drawing down near the fence but you probably don’t want to be that wide.
“She’s worked well and she’s probably on trial for Tasmania too. There’s the Bow Mistress and the Vamos Stakes, so they could possibly both go if they perform.”
