Racing: Filly out to show top form

Racegoers should see the real ability of Argyle Lass at the Taranaki Racing Club's meeting at Pukekura Raceway today.

The filly lines up in the Salt Restaurant (1600m) for three-year-olds and looked a rising star when scoring back-to-back lower grade wins over 1600m at Otaki last month to earn herself early fixed odds favouritism for next month's New Zealand Oaks.

However, the Grosvenor filly dented her growing reputation last start when failing in the Gaslight Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares at Te Rapa on December 11.

Argyle Lass was never travelling well, according to rider Mark Du Plessis, and after being handy on the home turn dropped out to finish ninth of 13.

New Plymouth trainer John Wheeler put the failure down to a cyst that developed on the horse's back.

Wheeler said that before the field had gone 200m it was obvious Argyle Lass was not stretching out as she should.

"She was never comfortable," he said, adding that the cyst burst only a matter of hours after the race. '

'She's had no after-effects since and is back to her old self again."

Wheeler was happy with how Argyle Lass galloped on Tuesday and Friday and rated her a "good thing" for today.

The other feature race is the $15,000 Taranaki Daily News Country Cup heat.

The 1800m progressive class race has drawn a capacity field, with Salada likely to start favourite.

- NZPA