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Sargent Dwells On Wyong Start For Kirramosa

3 minute read

Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan has to find a new jockey for Two Blue in Friday’s $100,000 Arrowfield Mona Lisa Stakes after Blake Shinn elected to ride the topweight Kirramosa.

Kirramosa
Kirramosa Picture: Racing and Sports

Shinn rode Two Blue when she resumed with a seventh in the Toy Show Quality at Randwick and Buchanan was hoped he would stick with her mare in the Listed feature over 1350m at Wyong.

However Shinn has an eye on the campaign that trainer John Sargent has mapped out for Kirramosa that includes the Epsom Handicap and Caulfield Cup.

In 2013 Kirramosa won the G2 Wakeful Stakes and G1 VRC Oaks at Flemington but then cracked a pedal bone and was off the scene for more than nine months.

She did little in four starts when she returned, was given another break and appears to have put all her woes behind her after a closing fifth when resuming over 1200m at Rosehill on August 15 when she came from last under 59kg.

Shinn is now waiting for Sargent to confirm his weekend plans for Kirramosa as the former Kiwi trainer is weighing up between a start in the Mona Lisa on Friday or the G2 Tramway Stakes

“It was pleasing to see her hit the line so well when resuming,” Sargent said. “I had the Mona Lisa pencilled in as her next step but she has 60.5kg and the entries are a lot stronger than I figured,” Sargent said.

“She is also in the Tramway at Randwick on Saturday so I will sleep on it and make a decision on Wednesday morning before acceptances for both meetings.”

Buchanan has leading apprentice Winona Costin set to ride Two Blue, who will be the topweight for the Mona Lisa if Kirramosa doesn’t accept.

Costin won last year’s Mona Lisa Stakes on Bouzy Rouge and has previous experience on Two Blue, riding the mare when she finished second in the Civic Stakes at Rosehill.

Buchanan said Two Blue had done well since the Toy Show Quality when nothing went right for the grey.

“She blundered at the start then got a squeeze and wouldn’t settle,” Buchanan said. “It was her first run since July and she needed it as a lead in to the Mona Lisa and has done well since.”

The Mona Lisa is shaping as one of the strongest on record with confirmed runners including Berry Delicious, Fine Bubbles, Echo Gal, Vergara, Commanding Wit, Define, Footy Fan and Shengli with Chris Waller to make a choice between Ballet Suite, Wine Tales and Holy Delusions.

Racing and Sports

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