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Mitta Mary takes crucial step at Doomben towards The Roses

12 May 2020

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Barry Lockwood is hopeful Mitta Mary can continue her progression towards next month’s Group 2 The Roses when the filly attempts back-to-back wins at Doomben on Wednesday.

Mitta Mary registered her second win from only five starts when she narrowly beat the Chris Anderson-trained Empire Games in a Class One over 1600 metres at the Sunshine Coast on April 29.

The daughter of Show A Heart was ridden on that occasion by Sean McCormack who retains the ride in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap, stepping up to 2070 metres.

Mitta Mary meets Empire Dreams 2.5kgs worse off after their last encounter but Lockwood isn’t overly concerned.

Like many of their opposition, Mitta Mary and Empire Games are yet to win past 1600 metres but both look to have promising futures over ground.

“It’s an unusual race with the weights compressed with the topweight (Torrens) carrying 61kgs,” Lockwood said.

“This is the natural step for her if she’s to go on to The Roses.

“It’s just a matter whether she can get over ground but I don’t see why she won’t.”

The Group 2 The Roses over 1800 metres will be run at Eagle Farm on June 13.

Mitta Mary is a half-sister to Listed winner Feltre, who won eight races for trainers Lyn Tipper and Brian Smith.

Feltre showed she could run a trip when she finished second in the Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) at the Gold Coast in 2017 and also fourth in the Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) the same year.

Empire Games is a son of Cox Plate winner Adelaide and was held back from racing as a two-year-old.

He made his debut with a fast-finishing second in a 1200-metre maiden at the Sunshine Coast on January 12 before stepping up sharply to win his maiden over 1600 metres at his next start at the Sunshine Coast.

Empire Games made a further step up in distance to 1815 metres at only his third start when he beat two home in a field of nine at Eagle Farm on February 22.

After a near two-month break Empire Games ran home strongly to finish fifth in a Class One (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on April 15 before being edged out last start by Mitta Mary.

Empire Games is raced in a syndicate which includes the Think Big Stud and Dr Kim McCasker.

McCasker has been a prominent owner for more than two decades and has won a host of feature races including the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 with Laurie’s Lottery in 1999.

Racing Queensland webnews - May 12