Trainer John McArdle has long harbored Group 1 ambitions for talented filly My Gladiola ever since she recorded her debut victory.
But those Group 1 dreams have been shattered twice: once by a poor barrier in the Blue Diamond Stakes and then by drawing an inside barrier in the Coolmore Stud Stakes on the Flemington straight last spring.
The stars may align for My Gladiola when she lines up in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
My Gladiola is widest in Saturday’s field as McArdle hunts for his third Group 1 win and first in more than two decades.
“She likes the outside better than the inside,” McArdle said.
“In the Coolmore she was pulled down from inside and had to follow Tentyris. This time she should be completely in clean air and he will have to chase her.”
My Gladiola has run the straight three times, winning the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) before finishing second on her other two outings.
My Gladiola, a debut winner at Sandown, was freshly beaten at Caulfield last season and McArdle said the filly is a better racehorse on the Flemington straight than around the bend at Caulfield.
That was part of the reason for choosing Saturday’s race, rather than the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield next Saturday, while regular rider Jamie Mott could ride My Gladiola half a kilo heavier at 54kg.
My Gladiola has not raced since finishing third in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in mid-November and was brought back after a three-week spell to concentrate on the two major Flemington sprints, the next being the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on March 7.
McArdle said he would have preferred to give My Gladiola another trial but said after a gallop at Mornington on Tuesday that she was good to go.
“Jamie galloped her on Tuesday morning and was happy with the way she went,” McArdle said.
“We put a buddy on her to give her something to chase and all the data was good.
“She’s probably a little above her racing weight, but I think that’s because she’s matured and gotten a bit stronger.
“She’s a strong girl but we can’t be unhappy with the way she goes to the races so we’ll see if she’s good enough and if she is and runs well then we’ll go to the Newmarket.
“Jamie is happy with her and he weighs 54 kilos to ride her.
“That gives us some confidence.”
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