KEY POINTS:
Awapuni trainer Kevin Gray admits he was gutted when his star filly Daffodil drew 17 for today's $240,000 group one Levin Classic, but hopes class will get her home.
Daffodil, an emphatic winner of the One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton on November 8, will start from barrier 14 in the 16-horse field, if the three emergencies are the only scratchings.
"She's a filly starting way out there, giving all those colts a head start," Gray said. "I was gutted really when I found [out] about the draw, but I've been in the game a long time and you have just got to accept it and carry on."
He said it would be up to his former apprentice Hayden Tinsley - now one of New Zealand's most accomplished jockeys - to keep Daffodil out of trouble and plot a path so she can use her powerful sprint down the straight.
"I have won races at Otaki from wide draws and she should be able to creep forward during the race because there shouldn't be anything in her road," Gray said. "I'll be happy if she is pretty handy about 800m from home."
Daffodil has thrived since the Guineas, pleasing Gray with her work. "I've looked after her and just kept the work up to her nicely. She's done really well and looks a picture."
She has class on her side and Gray said he hoped that and a good ride from Tinsley would see her take out a second group one title this month.
She is the only filly in the field and will be looking to extend the record of her gender, with Gray's Porotene Gem (2006) and Keepa Cruisin winners of the race in the past two years.
The TAB has Daffodil a $4.50 favourite on its final field market, ahead of Altered Image on $6 and Minstrel Court at $6.50. They are the horses who have group one form, while promising, but lesser performed youngsters such as The Spaniard, Fyfetheknife, Kiwi Hussler and Merrymaker could give some cheek.
Gray has nominated Daffodil for the $2.2 million New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on February 28, but said a start would depend on what progress she made this summer.
She is being aimed at the group three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni on December 13 and Gray would like to line her up in a few more of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year events before deciding next year's ptrogramme.
He said he and owner Garry Chittick had looked at the Derby and decided to nominate.
"Garry and I spoke about it and said yes, so if she does all right and we are happy with her we might have a try. At this stage it is on the agenda but I won't be taxing her if she shows any signs of weariness."
- NZPA
