Armidale preview: Trainer Melanie O’Gorman has been pleased with new recruit Leaglese who’s shooting for back-to-back wins

Trainer Melanie O’Gorman can give Phil Gould an Origin eve celebration when the former Blues coach’s flashy filly Leaglese goes around at Armidale.

The Melanie O’Gorman-trained Leaglese will be looking to give owner Phil Gould a win at Armidale on State Of Origin eve.

Blues legend Phil ‘Gus’ Gould can give his beloved New South Wales side an off-field win on Origin Eve when his former Queensland-resident Leaglese goes around in the Armidale Services Club Handicap (1300m).

Gould’s filly has thrived in her short time since relocating from enemy territory to Melanie O’Gorman’s Tamworth stable, winning at her 13th and most recent appearance at Glen Innes on May 7.

“She is a lovely filly and very eye-catching,” O’Gorman said.

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Trainer Melanie O'Gorman is happy with recent stable addition Leaglese.

“Phil just thought that she was probably a little out of her depth up in Brisbane.

“It was nice to get the win with her last start. I took her there to a SKY2 just as a confidence booster for her and she has trained on really well.

“I am happy with her but going back through all her form, she has never raced on anything worse than a Soft so it is really hard to say how she will handle a Heavy track on Tuesday.

“Maybe it will be an omen. Go the Blues!”

Gould’s filly was born and raised at Widden Stud and boasts all the flashiness of her sire, Star Witness.

Leaglese is the first foal of Sweet Eagle who is a half-sister to the Queensland Derby winner, Eagle Way.

Another of O’Gorman’s Armidale runners on Tuesday also has a ‘Blues’ feel about him, namely So Country.

A son of Shamexpress, the four-year-old entire is part-owned by Gorman herself and the former Waratahs gun Duncan McRae.

So Country has barely put a hoof wrong to date with a win and second from his only five starts.

“He has got a really good record and has been super consistent,” O’Gorman said.

“He has got a big weight on a Heavy 10 first-up and that’s my only concern really. Other than that, he is working really well and I was happy with his trial.”

Leaglese will again be ridden by jockey Jarrod Woodhouse at Armidale on Tuesday.

That trial was at Scone on May 25 where So Country was kept in check by Jarrod Woodhouse, crossing the line last of the five but only a length and a quarter from the winner.

The form out of the Heat was franked in no uncertain terms after trial winner, Per Inaway, landed some good bets to win her Australian debut at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday.

So Country is a remarkably well-bred horse, so much so that he adds a slice of Hollywood to Tuesday’s meeting.

Reason being, his eighth dam is the mare Swing On, who is best known as the mother of the immortal Seabiscuit.

O’Gorman’s first runner out of the blocks at Armidale is Go Seeking who also traces back to a celebrated ancestor, in his case, it is Denise’s Joy, his fifth dam.

Go Seeking is clearly on an upward trajectory having turned in a personal best at his third and most recent start at Gunnedah when finishing second in the 1250m maiden.

“He has just needed further so the 1250m really helped him the other day at Gunnedah,” O’Gorman explained.

“It just means that he can get to the front a bit easier because he certainly likes it when he can lead and roll along out in front.”

DODSON LOOKING FOR A FOND FAREWELL FROM HYPERTENSION

Back him on Tuesday and buy him on Wednesday.

That’s the possibility open to all when it comes to the Armidale-bound Hypertension

There is plenty of life (and wins) in the son of Love Conquers All, only not for trainer Brett Dodson and his current crew of owners.

“He is on the Inglis sale website so he actually will be sold the day after he runs at Armidale,” Dodson said.

“He is very consistent and is never far away. He always runs a good race.

“He has been up for a long time and hasn’t won a race this preparation so we thought we would give him one more while he is here and see if he can win one on the way out.”

There’s no doubt that Hypertension will suit someone somewhere looking for a sound racehorse still capable of going through his grades.

Trainer Brett Dodson has plenty of confidence in Gobbled at Armidale on Tuesday.

“He’s tough,” Dodson said. “I reckon this is his twelfth run this preparation.

“And being only a Class 1 horse, he is going to be a great buy for someone because he can win from 1000 metres to 1900 metres I would assume just looking at what he has done.

“Tuesday’s race doesn’t look overly strong and coming back to the 1400m will suit him.”

One horse that will be at Dodson’s a lot longer than Hypertension is Gobbled who heads from Coffs Harbour to Armidale to contest the last race on the program.

The son of Star Witness started out life with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr but has thrived in his far-coast surrounds winning once and placing three times in six runs under Dodson’s management.

“He would be my best on the day,” the trainer said.

“It was a good run the other day. I thought he would be hard to beat. He loomed up as though he was going to win it but he probably just died on his run and didn’t shirk his task over the last furlong.

“I reckon that would have just topped him off nicely for Tuesday. Even though he is creeping up in the weights a little bit, it is a good race for him.”

Dodson’s third runner at Armidale is the first cab off the rank, namely Amber Deluxe.

“I think the 1100m on the heavy track probably suits her down to the ground,” Dodson said.

Originally published as Armidale preview: Trainer Melanie O’Gorman has been pleased with new recruit Leaglese who’s shooting for back-to-back wins