The Kelly Schweida-trained mare Miss Cover Girl will return to racing on the weekend at home in Brisbane’s George Moore Stakes 2016 after bying the spring.
Tattersall’s Tiara winner Miss Cover Girl returns to racing on Saturday in the 2016 George Moore Stakes at Eagle Farm. Photo: Daniel Costello.
Schweida made the call not to send his Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara winner to Melbourne over the spring after she failed to really impress in a September barrier trial at Deagon north of Brisbane.
“I wasn’t totally happy with her and I felt going to Melbourne would be a waste of time,” he told AAP over the weekend.
“It was decided she would be better tackling the summer feature races in Queensland.”
She has since progressed well over her extended break and is ready to kick off her Brisbane Summer Racing Carnival campaign on Saturday in the $200,000 Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm Racecourse.
It will be her first start since posting her eighth career win in the Tattersall’s Tiara back in June, her upset win as a $21 roughie in which took her prize money earned up over $800,000.
Prior to her elite level winter success Miss Cover Girl hadn’t won a race since Randwick’s Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) back in April of 2015.
Her only other Eagle Farm run was the close fourth behind Spill The Beans in the Group 2 QTC Cup (1300m) when beaten home by just over half-a-length in her Tattersall’s Tiara lead-up run.
Miss Cover Girl contested last year’s George Moore Stakes when the sprint was contested at Doomben Racecourse, but finished second last (ninth) behind the winner Didntcostalot.
Top Queensland hoop Damian Browne rode Miss Cover Girl to victory in the Tiara and is likely to reunite acquaintances with the mare in the George Moore on Saturday.
From the George Moore Stakes she will head towards a January 13 run at the Gold Coast in one of the Magic Millions Day features.
“There are three races on that day which would suit her – the QTIS million race the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares race and the Magic Millions Cup,” Schweida said.
“They are all worth a million dollars so it gives us plenty of options. At least Buffering isn’t around for the QTIS race.”
A three-time winner at the Gold Coast track, Miss Cover Girl last raced there in May when a first-up second to Eloping in the Listed Silk Stocking (1200m).
She also contested the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares race last summer crossing eighth four and a quarter lengths off the winner I Am Zelady.
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