Promising mare Gossip will be seeking to earn her connections a rich bonus when she heads to Taupo on Wednesday to contest the DPA Chartered Accountants NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m).
The Mega Maiden Series allows Karaka Millions eligible horses to race for an additional $1 million in bonuses comprised of 40 non-Saturday maiden races.
The series kicks off at Taupo’s midweek meeting, and as a New Zealand Bloodstock graduate and maiden over the age of three, Gossip could earn her owner Gary Harding $20,000 and trainer Danica Guy $5,000 if she were successful on Wednesday.
The four-year-old daughter of Proisir, who was purchased out of Fairdale Stud’s 2023 Gavelhouse Plus National Online Yearling Sale by Harding for $110,000, looks a good chance of snaring the cash first-up, having shown plenty of promise to date, placing in all three of her career starts.
She returned this season with a pleasing runner-up performance in her 800m trial at Avondale earlier this month and Guy believes her mare is on song for her first-up assignment.
“She is coming up really well,” Guy said. “She has had a bit of a long layoff. She had a trial last week so she should be pretty forward for tomorrow.
“She is a lovely filly and has done a bit of developing, which she needed to do, so hopefully she runs well.”
Guy is hopeful of a bold showing on Wednesday and believes Gossip is in for an exciting preparation.
“There are a lot of nice options for her, but we will just get through tomorrow and make some plans from there,” she said.
The Matamata horsewoman will take a further four runners to Taupo, including three-year-old filly Licorice, who will make her debut in owner Gary Harding’s colours in the Fox & Hounds (1300m).
“Licorice is a beautiful, well-bred filly,” Guy said. “She is quality and whatever she does tomorrow she will improve off.
“I think she could be a really nice filly going forward to some of the three-year-old races over a bit more ground.”
Fierce Impact gelding Snipers Shot will also make his debut in the Prezzy Card Northern Country Cups Series (1300m), while the stable will also be represented by Annabelle in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1400m) and Live On Air in the Inglis Ready2Race Sale – 16 Oct (1400m).
“Snipers Shot is a nice horse, but he needs good tracks,” Guy said. “He is going to be a nice staying three-year-old and is going to be one to watch when he gets over a bit more ground.
“Annabelle is going well. She is pretty forward for her first-up run, so she should give a big of a sight too.
“Live On Air is flying. She is one of my better chances tomorrow.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
