Search

show me:

Steph’s Got Faith in a Kiss

3 minute read

Gotta Kiss’ chance to return to winning list.

STEVEN O'DEA.
STEVEN O'DEA. Picture: Racing and Sports

Gotta Kiss' reputation as one of Queensland's best fillies can be enhanced if she can break a run of outs against a small, but select field at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Gotta Kiss has competed mostly against the best Queensland has to offer throughout her career, with almost $500,000 in earnings from three wins in 12 starts.

But over the past 12 months, her career has been more defined by those horses she has finished behind.

She was luckless when third to subsequent Coolmore Stud Stakes winner September Run last May, before running second to Rothfire in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins.

During her summer campaign, the Steven O'Dea and Matt Hoysted trained Gotta Kiss was second to both Isotope and Apache Chase at stakes level, before running well for fifth in Aim's Magic Millions Guineas.

She gets a handy weight swing on Apache Chase from those meetings in their return clash this weekend.

Regular partner Steph Thornton points out Gotta Kiss' racing style has seen her endure some bad luck at times and for that reason, she thinks the small field on Saturday will be ideal.

"She was as consistent as she's ever been (through the summer). Unfortunately her racing pattern requires plenty of luck, which we didn't seem to get last prep," she said.

"Hopefully with a very small field on Saturday she won't need too much of it and she can be too good for them."

Gotta Kiss has not trialled publicly this time around, but she's had a jumpout and Thornton doesn't expect fitness to be a huge barrier to success.

"She only had a couple of weeks off after the Magic Millions run. She's sure to have retained plenty of fitness and I'm sure she will be running through the line," she said.

Thornton has a strong book of mounts for the O'Dea-Hoysted yard, with Kylease and Secret Tales also leading chances and it would be fitting if one of them saluted, given Hoysted welcomed his first child this week with wife Caitlin.

"It was great to see Secret Tales break her maiden at the Gold Coast. It was one of the biggest (winning margins) I've seen (18 lengths)," Thornton said.

"It will be a step up in grade, but the1400m definitely suits her and hopefully she's taken plenty of confidence off the maiden win.

"Kylease (you can) put a pen through the last start. I had five horses I thought were wet trackers and only one of them handled it.

"Her other form has been so consistent this campaign."

Thornton also rides last start winner Slow Hands for Kelly Schweida at Eagle Farm. 


Racing and Sports

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au