Harness racing trainer Karlene Tindale to have first thoroughbred runner at Flemington on Saturday

A harness racing trainer who has never been to Flemington will have her first foray in thoroughbred racing at this Saturday’s Lightning Stakes meeting.

Harness trainer Karlene Tindale (right) also has a thoroughbred trainer’s licence.

“Jumping into the deep end” is a cliche but there’s no other way to describe Karlene Tindale’s first foray into thoroughbred racing at Saturday’s Flemington meeting.

The Tindale family has competed successfully in the harness racing world for years but tough times in that sector prompted Karlene to secure her thoroughbred trainer’s licence.

“We’ve had the best life and had some really good horses but there’s just nothing in it (harness racing) any more,” she said.

“You work so hard for so little.

“My son has just got a gallops licence as well so we’ll be seeing them next.”

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Tindale has gone straight into high stakes racing, nominating Nostradamus filly Nostra Bella for the $175,000 Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m).

She said she might as well enter Nostra Bella for the Flemington race as the youngster could also meet strong company in a two-year-old race at Bendigo on Saturday.

Nostra Bella has had two jumpouts this time in, finishing third at Great Western at her last outing on January 30, but Tindale said she had no real guide to her charge’s likely performance at Flemington.

“We’re a little bit in the dark, I suppose you could say, because the levels we’re not quite sure of yet as to where we need to be,” she said.

“We haven’t been able to work with that many horses yet, being new in the game, but she’s fit and doing her work lovely.

“We’ll see on Saturday where she’s at.”

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Nostra Bella’s appearance at Flemington will be the culmination of a dialogue stretching back many years between the Tindales and the filly’s Perth-based breeder.

“We bred this filly with a partner that we’ve had in harness for about 30 years and he’s been trying to get us into the gallops for years,” Tindale said.

“We’re thoroughly enjoying it. It’s a real learning curve and thoroughly different to what the trots are.

“We’ve still got a harness licence and we’ve got a couple of two-year-olds that are just about ready to start in the harness so that keeps us busy.

“We’re sorting of edging our way into the gallops.”

The Talindert Stakes will not be the only first for Tindale on Saturday.

“I’ve never even been to Flemington before,” she said.

“It’s going to be so exciting.”

Originally published as Harness racing trainer Karlene Tindale to have first thoroughbred runner at Flemington on Saturday