New Zealand
Talk centred on Breeders’ Stakes for progressive mare
Girl Talk’s hot run of form has earned her an early crack at a black-type feature at the scene of her latest triumph.
She was successful on Saturday in Rating 75 company at Wanganui and a return to the River City for the Gr.3 Windsor Park Manawatu Breeders' Stakes (2000m) on April 6 is now firmly in the sights of the four-year-old.
Younger stablemate Iffigive will also remain on target for a return to stakes racing if she performs up to expectations at Waverley on Wednesday.
Part-owner and trainer Stephen Nickalls has played the waiting game with Girl Talk, and the daughter of Zed is now repaying his patience.
"She is a good mare, a very cool little girl so we're very lucky," he said.
"She will most likely go for the Breeders' Stakes back at Wanganui, she was still a maiden in October so she's come a very long way in a reasonably short period of time."
Girl Talk opened her account at Waverley in the spring and subsequently won two on the bounce at Trentham and prior to her latest success had placed in the Douro Cup (1600m) and finished sixth in the Karapiro Classic (1600m).
"She was third behind Anderson Bridge and Afternoon Siesta and was just over two lengths behind That's Gold, who was second favourite for the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m), at Te Rapa," Nickalls said.
"She's doing an exceptional job for us, all things being equal she'll got to Wanganui on Easter Monday."
Girl Talk has been taken along quietly and has now won four of her 14 appearances.
"She's a temperamental little darling and we never rushed her as a young horse," Nickalls said.
"We got her up and going and gave her a jump-out before we turned her out and she came back to win a trial. We spaced her races as a three-year-old and didn't overtax her.
"She paraded well on Saturday and didn't have to go out early like she normally does, she's maturing nicely but she still can be a bit difficult at times.
Meanwhile, Iffigive has done well since her luckless run for seventh in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
She had previously finished sixth in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) and fourth in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).
"She has been very unlucky and should have won a maiden race by now, she got skittled on the corner in the Oaks and was still hitting the line hard," Nickalls said.
"The Manawatu Classic (Gr.3, 2100m) at Trentham on March 28 is her target if she does everything right (in the Property Brokers, 1650m) at Waverley on Wednesday.
"She's come through the Oaks really well and she'll be dropping back to a mile, but it was either run there or go back to the trials as it would have been six weeks between races.
"It will tidy her up nicely, she's bouncing around in the paddock and I can't fault her."
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