Racing
Grid Girl all go to tick Stakes box
Mare on the up as Flemington can springboard to more.
A picket fence preparation can continue for Grid Girl at Flemington as the mare has her first attempt at black type status in the Listed Kensington Stakes on New Year's Eve.
The Victoria Racing Club has made the switch from the traditional New Year's Day fixture to a twilight card the day before and it is hoped that more than 10,000 will tick through the turnstiles to set a new precedent for highlight days of racing over the summer.
Grid Girl is ready to line up in the 1400-metre feature after three wins in succession in as many runs this preparation with higher aims at Flemington later on should the five-year-old be able to keep raising the bar.
JD Hayes has the expectation that she can.
"She's gone to another level," Hayes said.
"She's really come of age and she's racing well, honest and consistent, and I can't see why she can measure up at black type level."
Grid Girl made the trip to Rosehill and won, albeit narrowly, in benchmark 94 company on December 7 and notched a Racing and Sports ratings figure of 106 and etched herself in stakes company on that basis.
"She used to do a fair bit wrong and I think it has all come with racing and age," Hayes added.
"She used to be quite keen in her races and she seems to have dropped that habit and it has culminated with her being able to finish a lot more strongly.
"She is probably similar to what Marble Arch did at the same age," he added of the now six-year-old who took out the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in March.
"Her win in Sydney was dominant in that she was in for a dogfight and didn't give up."
Grid Girl has drawn barrier one in the field of nine while the Lindsay Park team also have Run Harry Run and Roll On High engaged in the Kensington Stakes.
"Roll On High likes Flemington and I think she can bounce back there," Hayes said.
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