If bad things come in threes punters could be in for a nervous watch with There You Go in Saturday's 1000 Guineas at Riccarton.
The big filly looks the one to beat in the classic even after drawing barrier 13 but trainer Tony Pike is having a nightmare week, not with his horse's performances but through sheer bad luck.
His three-year-old Field Of Gold was luckless before charging into third in the 2000 Guineas last Saturday, although he wouldn't have beaten Noverre, but you will never see a worse hard luck story in a black type race than the Pike-trained Providenceprovides in the $90,000 Breeders Stakes at Riccarton on Wednesday.
The big mare had raced clear at the 200m mark and was going to bolt away with the group three before her hindquarters touched the running rail and she took fright, stumbled and lost all momentum before regathering herself to finish third beaten a neck.
"I don't know who we have upset or what we have done but it has been a hell of a week," says Pike.
"Bad luck happens in racing as we know but you don't see them beaten like that mare did in a group three races very often."