By Glenn Davis
Trainer Chris Anderson has warned a step up in distance to 1350-metres looms as the biggest challenge for Epic Girl in the Listed Just Now Quality at Doomben on Saturday.
Epic Girl has won five of her 15 starts and has raced only twice at 1350 metres or beyond.
The four-year-old was unplaced in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm in May before finishing second to the Team Edmonds-trained Usmanov over 1350 metres at Doomben in June.
“I’d much prefer it to be third up over 1350 metres but it is what it is,” Anderson said.
“She’ll be competitive but I’m a bit worried the last 50 metres might find her out.”
Anderson is keen for Epic Girl to win a Stakes race to boost her stud value and is hopeful she can keep her unbeaten second-up record intact.
The daughter of Shamus Award has won her only two starts second up from a spell but both were over shorter trips.
Anderson was not overly confident and was more living in hope that Epic Girl would make a successful comeback when she finished seventh to the Kris Lees-trained Miss Fabulass in the Listed Tatt’s Classic (1200m) at Doomben last month.
It was her first run since winning two restricted races at Eagle Farm and Doomben in August.
“We gave her a chance after she went into that race off a nice barrier trial win at Doomben,” he said.
“She gets another chance to compete in a Black-Type race in this and it would be great for her owners who are breeders.
“If she can get some Black-Type it’ll put some value for her as a broodmare.”
Anderson hasn’t settled on her next outing but is still considering the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast next month.
“She’s a homebred and didn’t go through the Magic Millions sales so she’d have to win a wildcard race to get into the fillies and mares’ race,” he said.
Anderson rates Toowoomba Jadentom and Snow Valley as the main threats to Epic Girl.
The Lindsay Hatch-trained Jadentom won the Jacaranda Cup (1200m) at Grafton on November 6 before a last start third to Miss Fabulass in the Tatt’s Classic.
The Matt Dunn-trained Snow Valley indicated she was close to her best form when fifth in the Tatt’s Classic, less than two lengths from the winner.
Racing Queensland webnews December 5