With Griante now retired to start the next phase of her life as a broodmare, trainer David Brideoake is looking to Thames Court to step up to the Group One plate.
Griante gave Brideoake his second Group One win when she sprinted to victory in The Galaxy in Sydney during the autumn carnival.
“Thames Court, she’s Group Two placed and a Group Three winner. She’s the best opportunity we have for the spring I would say,” Brideoake said.
Griante, whose last start brought a fourth in the Group One Robert Sangster Classic in Adelaide, will be served by champion sire Redoute’s Choice in the upcoming breeding season.
The winner of three of her seven starts, Thames Court was placed in the Group Three Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley last spring and won the Group Three Alexandra Stakes over 1600m at the same track during the autumn carnival with Hugh Bowman aboard.
The filly was then taken to Adelaide where she finished last in the Laelia Stakes (2000m).
“She’s back in work and just starting to tick along a little bit now,” the Mornington-based Brideoake said.
“I would expect Thames Court to get to some good mares races through the spring.
“I would envisage a mare like her to probably have an ultimate target of the Myer Classic. A mile race for mares at Flemington, she should be really, really well placed I’d say.”
The Group One Myer Classic is on the opening day of the four-day Melbourne Cup carnival on October 29.
