By Michael Guerin
The New Zealand racing career of pacing princess Tupelo Rose is in doubt.
The magnificent filly is expected to have only one more start here before heading to Melbourne and she is not expected to return.
Tupelo Rose started her career in sensational fashion, downing one of our best colts in her first start and winning the Juvenile Championship at her third.
She was then whisked to Brisbane for a successful two-race cam-paign which may have subsequently cost her dearly.
Rather that taking it easy before contesting the rich Sires Stakes double, Tupelo Rose's Brisbane campaign left her with little time to get over her Juvenile Championship campaign.
And she has definitely looked vulnerable since returning from Brisbane, having being beaten three times in her last five starts.
The latest was at Addington on Saturday night when she was outfinished by Cosmic Ice in the $70,000 Sires Stakes Fillies Final.
Earlier in the season Tupelo Rose had looked lengths better than any of her filly rivals but she has lacked explosiveness in the past month, a sure sign of a young horse who has had enough. And it may not be just Tupelo Rose who has had enough.
Her Australian owners, who paid big money for the In The Pocket filly in November, are now sending her to Victorian trainer Ted Demmler after the Caduceus Club Classic on June 18.
"I have been told she will go to Ted's for a spell but I don't really expect to get her back," trainer Wayne Ross said yesterday.
It had earlier been suggested to Ross Tupelo Rose would remain in his care until after the major fillies races in New Zealand next season - funny how things change after a few losses.
The irony of Tupelo Rose's slight form slump is that had her Victorian owners not insisted on the Brisbane campaign Tupelo Rose probably would have been a far greater force in the rich Addington races over the past month.
Tupelo Rose borders on the leggy side of athletic and would have been a better horse with a quieter juve-nile campaign followed by a decent spell. That would have set her up perfectly for the races that really matter - the classics for fillies next season.
Instead Tupelo Rose will head to Victoria, where no doubt she will be a star next season because she is a wonderful athlete.
But don't expect her to achieve the greatness she looked capable of. After all, you reap what you sow.
Horse Racing: Leading Aussie trainer snares withering Rose
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