Hawkesbury, Orange previews: Terry Croft-trained mare Lady Gold ready to bounce back from disappointment

Trainer Terry Croft warns not to dismiss Lady Croft on her home track after things didn’t go to plan last start.

Lady Gold can bounce back from her latest run with a bold showing on her home track of Hawkesbury. Picture: Bradley Photos

Hawkesbury trainer Terry Croft has advised punters to forget Lady Gold’s latest unplaced run and instead assess her chances on her previous two starts when she steps out on her home track on Thursday.

Lady Gold ran her race upside down when stretching out to 1850m for the first time, going too hard early and having nothing left in the tank when ninth behind Kosuke at Newcastle on September 20.

“I was a bit disappointed at Newcastle. I thought Braith (Nock) would have taken a sit after she blundered at the start,” said Croft.

“He thought she was going to get caught three and four deep so he gave her dig and she ran her first 600m in about 34 something. You just can’t do that and expect to finish off.

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Lady Gold (right) finishes a close second to Line Of Fire at Wyong. Picture: Bradley Photos

“She was running high 11 seconds and low 12 seconds that early part so she actually battled on pretty well for the work she did.

“If she had been held up early, I think it would have been a different result.”

Prior to that, Lady Gold was narrowly beaten into second place in consecutive starts at Wyong.

Let’s Go Johnny just caught her late to beat her a neck over 1600m on August 18 then she was beaten a half-length by Line Of Fire in record time over 1625m on September 1.

“She ran well that day when she was ridden just behind the speed,” Croft said.

Lady Gold drops back to 1600m when she lines up in the Midway Class 1 Handicap with Rachel King to ride her from barrier 1.

“She was either going to go to Bathurst for another 1800m race or run here and when there wasn’t big nominations here, I thought we would have a throw at the stumps,” said Croft.

“She comes back to 1600m but that won’t bother her. She will sit up on the bunny somewhere.

“She has drawn a good gate and Rachel (King) rides these types of horses nicely. Just up near the speed and rating them well.

“She has come through that Newcastle run well and he work has been good.

“I’m sure she will be around the money somewhere.”

Suay Mam'selle (left) finishing third behind Noises at Hawkesbury. Picture: Bradley Photos

Earlier in the day, Croft is hoping Suay Mam’selle can finally get a bit of luck go her way as she chases victory in the Maiden Plate (1800m).

The four-year-old has two third placings in seven starts but her record could easily read better.

The first of those placings was behind Noises and Torie’s Rose at Hawkesbury three starts back while the other was behind Rock Are Steiner at Port Macquarie 11 days ago.

“She has been around the money but just hasn’t be able to get there.

“She was only a length away at Hawkesbury And they franked the form by winning at their next starts.

“We took her away to Port Macquarie the other day thinking she would win but she just bumped into a couple better than her on the day.

“Mollie Fitzgerald rode her well at Port Macquarie so we thought we would put her back on.

“She gives every indication she will run the journey because she relaxes nicely and gets in well with Mollie’s three kilo claim.”

Croft’s third runner is debutant Champagne Maid in the Maiden Plate (1000m).

“The 1000m will be too short for her but she is ready to go to the races and this looks a nice race to start off in,” he said.

“We will see how she goes and then maybe take her away for something a bit further next time.”

ONE MORE THING TO END CAMPAIGN WITH ONE MORE WIN

Local Gelding One More Thing has already been a great money-spinner in his short time for Alison Smith but is still a work in progress according to his trainer.

Purchased online from Inglis Digital in January for $3,000 by Smith’s husband, Nathan, One More Thing has recorded a win and three seconds in just eight starts and earned back 10 times his purchase price.

While his recent record reads well, Smith said the penny is yet to drop.

“He has been a bit difficult to get going and I have had to make a few gear changes along the way,” said Smith.

“He has a tendency in his races to race a bit keen and difficult to ride.

“I’ve changed his bit a couple of times and I put a crescendo bit on him prior to his last run.

“He was much better in it and Will (Stanley) said he wouldn’t have pulled a sausage off a greasy plate.”

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That race was over 1300m at Dubbo on September 29 where he sat last before closing well in the straight to finish just under a length second behind Broadway Follies over 1300m.

“We think we have got him where he needs to be,” she said.

“He still did a little bit wrong at Dubbo the other day. Will said he laid in a bit when he first went for him which most probably cost him but I thought his run was really good.

“This has been a learning preparation for him and after this run, he is going to the paddock.

“Hopefully next time in is when he can go to the races do everything right and perhaps get to a Highway in town.”

While One More Thing’s campaign is coming to an end, it is the start of the latest one for Smith’s other runner, Nightwalker in the Maiden Plate (1000m).

The five-year-old has placed in three of his 12 starts but importantly, two of them have been on his home track.

“I keep saying he shouldn’t still be a maiden but he is still doing a little bit wrong,” Smith said.

“I don’t work him with maidens, I work him with horse who gallop alright, his work with them is pretty good.

“His owner has been very patient with him and I hope he can win a couple of races this preparation for her.

“I think he should run a nice race first-up.”