Queensland’s holiday racing centres on Ipswich, and trainer Bryan Dais is optimistic Cool Music will progress and exhibit the talent he sees in her for the campaigns ahead.
She shoulders 60 kilograms in benchmark 58 but Cool Music is geared to take advantage of the shift from midweek to provincial in the Barrier Reef Pools Fillies and Mares Handicap (1350m) at Ipswich this Monday.
The mare, aged five, opened her prep with a win at Warwick and followed with second place at Ipswich at 1350m on March 14.
Her fourth at Eagle Farm over 1600m on March 25, missing by less than a length, has Dais convinced of her prospects from draw 11.
"I saw the original barrier and didn’t worry too much about the rest of the field," Dais said.
"She jumped from the outside barrier here two starts ago and ran enormously.
"I think we ran the fastest 1000, 800 and 400 sectionals of the race."I took her to Warwick and that was mainly because of where her rating was at, and the perfect race to kick off her preparation."
Post her April 2025 placing at Ipswich, Cool Music suffered a stable accident requiring over six months away.
"She came back and was going ok but not where I thought she should be," Dais added.
"She then pulled a muscle and needed an extended spell but this time being back in work, I think she has come back to where she was as a three-year-old.
"At her fifth start at that age, she was already racing against open company at Eagle Farm."
Following eight withdrawals, Cool Music is $6.50 in betting as David Vandyke’s Our Jewel holds favouritism at $3.40.
Discover betting markets for the race among sports betting options at racing betting markets.