Trainer Mark Walker finds significant encouragement in jockey Blake Shinn’s decision to partner Geegees Mistruth in an upcoming Group 1 race at Caulfield.
Shinn was in the saddle for Geegees Mistruth’s Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) run at Sandown on September 5 and will continue his association with the mare for the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield this Sunday.
Geegees Mistruth finished fifth behind My Gladiola upon her return at Sandown. The race dynamics remained largely unchanged after the field had settled.
Having concluded her autumn campaign with a Group 1 victory in Adelaide, Walker was pleased with Geegees Mistruth’s initial performance at Sandown.
“She ran well,” Walker commented. “The first three around the corner were the first three home, but I thought she ran really well and more importantly Blake is sticking with her. That’s a positive. Her sectionals were good, so we take a lot of positives out of the run.”
My Gladiola and Extragalactic, who finished ahead of Geegees Mistruth at Sandown, are among the rivals on Saturday. Point Barrow, who was almost three lengths behind the Walker-trained mare, subsequently won at Caulfield last Saturday.
Geegees Mistruth has competed seven times at Caulfield, achieving a top-three finish on four occasions.
All four of Geegees Mistruth’s placings have been at Stakes level, over distances varying from 1000m to 1400m. This includes a second placing to Rey Magnerio in the Caulfield Sprint last October.
The mare’s only notable failure occurred in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) in February, her sole Group 1 start at the track, where she failed to jump.
The mare has drawn barrier one once more for Saturday’s event, a gate she has occupied in three of her past six starts.
“She’s got a good record at Caulfield without winning,” Walker stated. “It’s, arguably, a stronger field than first-up, however the 1200 metres is going to suit her better, so we’ll have to see how she goes.”
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