By Glenn Davis
Trainer Kevin Kemp hopes winter plans for promising filly Plumaro will become a little clearer if she runs at Doomben on Saturday.
Plumaro is entered for the Laser Clinics Toombul QTIS Two-Year-old Handicap (1350m) but Kemp won’t declare her a definite runner with the prospect of more rain.
Heavy overnight rain on Thursday forced the postponement of Friday’s Ipswich meeting and more rain is predicted by Saturday.
Doomben is currently rated a heavy eight following 40 millimetres of rain overnight.
“I suppose you don’t know if these young horses will handle a wet track unless you try them,” Kemp said.
“I’m hoping she’ll go on and make it to the winter carnival.
“It would be nice to run her in the Sires’ Produce and J J Atkins but if not there’s plenty of good QTIS races for her and there’s the Lancaster Stakes on Stradbroke day which she could target.
“QTIS races are worth almost $80,000 to the winner. That’s unbelievable money.”
Plumaro’s immediate mission is the $250,000 QTIS Two-Year-Old Jewel, a set weights race for fillies at the Gold Coast on March 17.
Kemp isn’t fazed by a drop back in distance from 1350 metres to 1200 metres in the QTIS Two-Year-Old Jewel if she runs at Doomben.
“It’s only 150 metres so it shouldn’t be a problem,” Kemp said.
“She’s doing fantastic at the moment but if she shows any signs she needs a break she’ll be in the paddock immediately.
“If she doesn’t run tomorrow there’s a few other races for her before The Jewel.”
Plumaro, a daughter of brilliant first season sire Spirit Of Boom, won her debut by more than nine lengths at Toowoomba on January 28.
She then started a heavily backed favourite when an eye-catching second to Mishani Hustler at Doomben on February 10.
“I’m taking her blinkers off and putting winkers on if she runs tomorrow,” Kemp said.
“She’s only a small filly and the blinkers didn’t quite fit her.”
Racing Queensland webnews February 23