Uratta Belle’s come-from-behind third on debut to Echo Gal gives trainer Kylie Gavenlock confidence the filly can take another step towards the $250,000 Inglis Classic.
Saturday’s two-year-old race at Rosehill features a number of youngsters with the same goal two weeks later including Group Three Maribyrnong Plate winner Boomwaa.
Uratta Belle is again one of the outsiders but that doesn’t deter trainer.
It wasn’t the plan for Uratta Belle to have to make ground but she jumped up instead of forward at the start of the 1000m midweek maiden at Warwick Farm in December.
“Her first race was very pleasing. She jumped up a bit so that forced her back from her wide alley and it was good to see her making ground,” Gavenlock said.
“She has drawn wide again so I expect she will get back a bit again but hopefully not as far back this time.
“She’s not a brilliant jumper and she hasn’t put it all together yet but she is a lovely filly and has always shown a good finish.”
A $10,000 yearling at the Classic sale, Uratta Belle is by I Am Invincible, sire of Invisible, the second favourite for the $2 million Magic Millions.
“I Am Invincible has produced really good types,” Gavenlock said.
“They are all very correct.”
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Echo Gal was the popular early choice early for the Magic Millions on Saturday week, but a sub-par run in the Bruce McLachlan and a diagnosis of thumps has her as a $17 chance in the big race.
She will have to satisfy stewards in a work-out on Saturday at the Gold Coast to take her place in the field.
Echo Gal’s stablemate Fighting Sun is the early favourite at Rosehill and a win would catapult him into the Magic Millions.
Peter Robl will ride Uratta Belle and will also be aboard Gavenlock’s other Rosehill runner, Samui Lad, in the 1500m benchmark 80.
Gavenlock took over the training of Samui Lad from Waterhouse last year and said the tempo of his most recent race over 1200m last Saturday week had gone against him.
“I would rather he was running over 1400 metres but the one race tomorrow over the distance is a benchmark 95 so we’ve gone for the easier option,” she said.
“They went too fast for him last time but over longer I expect him to be right in the finish.
“He is a big, heavy horse and because of that he has his share of leg problems which need to be managed.”
Despite his issues, the talented Samui Lad has won six and been placed another seven times in 30 starts.