STEVE O’Halloran is still scratching his head!
After a cracking third at $101 in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Royal Randwick last December, his Yes Yes Yes filly Nymphadora remains winless following five more starts, which included a second on the Kensington track in March.
Understandably, the experienced Hawkesbury horseman is hoping for a change of luck with her at home tomorrow as a big payday awaits if she can shed her maiden status.
Jean Van Overmeire is a new rider for Nymphadora, a $3 favorite with TAB.com.au this morning, in the Grange Growing Solutions Super Maiden Handicap (1000m).
Not only does the Hawkesbury opener carry an above normal first prize of $28,400, but that will be boosted by a cool $100,000 if she can shed her maiden status.
The Super Maiden is the next in this season’s Inglis Bonus Xtra Series – and Nymphadora is eligible, being a $30,000 Inglis Classic yearling purchase early last year.
Whilst Nymphadora was beaten first-up as an odds-on hotpot ($1.35) when fifth to Up The Front (beaten only one and a half lengths) in a Provincial Maiden Plate (1000m) at Hawkesbury on September 7, O’Halloran has explained that a subsequent blood test revealed she wasn’t 100 per cent.
“Obviously she was suffering from a bit of a virus, and I backed off her, which is why she hasn’t raced since.
“I gave her a tick-over trial at home on October 14 when Jean rode her, and she ran third over 800m.
“She didn’t have a gut buster with this race coming up tomorrow.”
O’Halloran also is buoyed by the fact that Nymphadora’s coat has started to come through in the last few weeks as the weather begins to turn.
“She took a long time to drop her winter coat, but will look a lot better when she parades tomorrow.
“Hopefully she can get the job done, especially for her owners, who have been very patient.”
O’Halloran is chasing his second success of the current season, having scored with Rico Suave at his home track on August 13.
*Words by John Curtis for hawkesburyraceclub.com.au
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