Too Good Too Hard will try end a string of placings and justify favouritism in Saturday’s $102,550 Listed Christmas Handicap (1200m) at Morphettville.
The Phillip Stokes-trained mare was runner-up in the Listed Black Pearl at Flemington before again finding one better in the Group 3 Begonia Belle at Flemington on Derby Day, ahead of her eye-catching effort behind One More Jack in the Listed City of Marion Stakes at Morphettville last time out.
The five-year-old had to be snagged back and covered ground from a tricky wide gate before closing strongly to be beaten 1.2 lengths behind One More Jack. Tommy Stokes said she should be able to grab some cover from barrier eight which will only enhance her chances.
“She’s well and truly up to them,” Stokes said.
“The barrier cost her last start; she covered a lot of ground on what we thought was a leader-biased track. Todd Pannell goes on and with even luck I am sure she’ll be in the money again.”
Despite a better barrier, Stokes said he was unsure just how the Morphettville track would race with the rail out 13m on Saturday.
“I always think the track will favour the leaders when the rail is out, but who knows?” he said.
“She can handle all conditions, we think she’s flying.”
The Stokes stable won the 2007 feature with St Trinians, the mother of recent Matriarch Stakes winner and Ballarat Cup runner-up Affair To Remember. St Trinians finished runner-up in the City of Marion before beating Tramuntana to win the feature with Jason Holder in the saddle.
The stable also hoping Symphonette can sneak a start in the feature as an emergency.
She boasts one win and three seconds from five first-up attempts and has a strong link to the stable. Her mother, Symphony Miss, won the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield and was placed in the Group 3 Let’s Elope Stakes.
“We just need a scratching, I’m a bit worried we’re not going to get one,” Stokes said.
“We know she’s as good as we can have her, and she goes pretty good fresh. We can go to a benchmark 70 anytime, we just thought why not give her a crack in a Listed race?”.
Stokes said Four Of Kind was overdue and draws to run well early in the day.
“I think she’s ready to win,” he said.
“She’s been a bridesmaid, but third up at 1200m, she should box seat and be right in the finish.”
And he said Call Me Shamus could turn around some ordinary winter form if his trackwork and lead-up work is any guide.
“He was a bit disappointing last preparation, but mainly on softer ground,” Stokes said.
“We bought him in specifically for summer, his last trial was really good and he should be running on strong late.”