Talented maidens set to springboard to bigger things

The word ‘‘maiden’’ might appear often across Tuesday's feature meeting at Gosford, but with 28 runners either resuming from a spell or having their first start, it is a real springboard card for several lightly raced gallopers that could easily tackle bigger riches in coming months.

Heading the potential showdowns is a trio of promising three-year-olds in a maiden handicap (race one) over 1100 metres for those that have not started more than three times.

Sentimental locals will be cheering for the only non-metro runner in debutante filly Lightning Ally from the Kylie Gavenlock yard, but three of Sydney’s biggest juvenile yards are set to fight it out.

While Kylease dominates the market, resuming gelding Vendome looks the big threat and best value. He hasn’t started for nearly six months but a recent trial behind the smart and subsequent winner Kolding has him shaping well for a winning return.

Big chestnut Vedder is resuming off a smart trial win in the class 1 handicap (race two) for the boys over 1100m.

Bred to sprint by Star Witness out of a Rory’s Jester mare, Vedder hasn’t started since bolting in his maiden at this track on November 1 as a heavily backed odds-on favourite.

Of course, he will have more opposition today headed by another first-up three-year-old gelding in Stay Smart, which looked very forward in a Rosehill trial finishing right on the hammer of high class Royal Celebration.

Then, in race five, if patience and persistence have any reward, they should both be answered aboard Godolphin three-year-old Pindus.
The well-bred son of Exceed And Excel is still a maiden after eight starts but he ran a big race from off the speed behind Schnapps at Gosford two runs back over 1200m.

Supplied by Racing NSW

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