Trainer John McArdle is weighing up all elite sprint options for his filly My Gladiola as she builds towards an autumn campaign.
The earliest of those possibilities could come in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington next Saturday, with the filly edging closer to a race return.
My Gladiola tuned up at Caulfield Heath on Thursday, narrowly accounting for Giga Kick in an 800m trial.
Giga Kick is expected to resume in the Lightning Stakes.
The straight-track Group 1 also appeals to McArdle as it allows Jamie Mott, who knows the filly well, to retain the ride.
If connections instead elect to aim for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 21, Mott would be unable to make the required weight.
Another positive for My Gladiola is her affinity for Flemington where she boasts a win and two seconds from three starts.
McArdle said they would accept for the Lightning Stakes and assess the draw before locking in a final decision, knowing the Oakleigh Plate remains an option.
“It works that we can accept in the Lightning and if it doesn’t work, we can go back to the Oakleigh Plate, but she is a very effective horse down the straight,” McArdle said.
“She’s run well at Caulfield, but a couple of times, mainly due to barriers she’s ended up in awkward spots, and she hasn’t been as effective.
“One of the other factors is Jamie can ride her in the Lightning, but he wouldn’t be able to ride her in the Oakleigh Plate.
“Having someone that knows her as well as he does is an advantage.
“She’ll have 53 (kg) in the Newmarket and he’ll ride her at 53-½ (kg) whereas she’ll get probably 51 (kg) in the Oakleigh Plate and he’s no hope of making that.
“That is a factor that myself and (part-owner) Paul Johnson have taken into consideration as she can be a bit of a trick ride.”
My Gladiola has not raced since finishing third in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on November 15, following a close second to Tentyris in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on November 1.
McArdle said the recent trial would bring the filly forward.
“She needed the hit-out and the best part of it was she relaxed during the run which is what she needs to do,” McArdle said.
“She hit the front and then floated a bit and probably ran out of fitness a bit, but we’ve got a couple of weeks until the Lightning, so hopefully a couple more bits of work and she’ll be ready for the day.
“Physically she’s got bigger, she’s matured. She’s an older three-year-old now and mentally she’s learning her craft.
“She has to take that step up. She’s taking on the top-level horses, which she did against the three-year-olds in the spring but she’s taking on the older horses this time and hopefully she can take the next step.”
Those assessing Australian betting sites will be watching closely if My Gladiola lines up in the Lightning Stakes.
The post My Gladiola on Lightning Stakes path first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
