Ciaron Maher & David Eustace always have a strong hand at Victorian feature meetings but will put all their eggs in one mare’s basket for the Golden Topaz (1200m).
How Womantic, already a Group 3 winner as a three-year-old filly, has been out of the winner’s circle for nearly two years but co-trainer David Eustace is confident the mare is back on track.
“It was a nice run (first up), it was pleasing to see that,” Eustace said.
Harry Coffey is likely to ride the mare for the first time and Eustace said the step up to a more suitable 1200m will suit after hitting the line strongly behind stablemate Easy Single over 1000m at Flemington.
While How Womantic is stepping up in grade, she’ll face stiff competition with the Nick Ryan trained Regardsmaree also likely to run after a midfield finish in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville.
“He came back from Adelaide in terrific order, the run didn’t hurt him at all. I haven’t had to do much with him, just kept him really fresh, he’s done really well. I’m really happy with him,” Ryan told SEN on Tuesday.
Keeping Regardsmaree fresh at 1200m has been a set play for Ryan after stretching him to a mile as a three-year-old.
“The start before on VOBIS Gold day at Caulfield he beat Lombardo and The Astrologist (over 1200m) so that’s pretty good form heading to Swan Hill on Friday.”