Isotope set for big return on Saturday in the Nudgee Stakes
One of Queensland’s best racehorses is only a number of days away from her racetrack return, with Isotope set to line up in Saturday’s Listed Nudgee Stakes (1200m) at Doomben.
The Tony Gollan-trained four-year-old mare has not raced since April, where she finished a narrow second to a subsequent Group 1 winner, Wild Ruler, in the Group 2 Arrowfield Stakes at Randwick.
Yet to race as a four-year-old, the daughter of Deep Field has had the one lead up trial in preparation for her return, where she finished one-tenth of a length behind Goodonya Sonja on December 7.
💥 Isotope's back 💥
ICYMI here is the L600m of Trial 2 at Doomben this morning featuring Isotope ⚫️⚪️ for @tonygollan ridden by @RMaloney_Jockey 🏇
After a lengthy layoff, we couldn't have asked for anything more 👍 Set for another trial before a likely return on 1 Jan 😀 pic.twitter.com/aamFT2ihbn
— Black Soil Bloodstock (@Black_Soil_Bsk) December 6, 2021
The Nudgee Stakes has attracted a quality field of 18 fillies and mares, with Group 1-winning mare Krone the top weight.
Isotope has drawn perfectly in barrier three under Ryan Maloney, which will likely see her start a short-priced favourite with the online bookmakers.
“She’s going really well,” Gollan told Sky Racing.
“We’ve had a beautiful preparation with her.
“The weather forecast for the weekend doesn’t excite me a whole lot, so we need to see just what we’ll do if this track does get really, really wet.”
As of Wednesday morning, the Doomben track was rated a Soft 6, however further rain is predicted on Thursday and Saturday, which could impact the state of the track.
With the $1M Magic Millions Fillies & Mares (1300m) set out as Isotope’s main target race this summer, her trainer believes she should improve a lot out of Saturday’s race.
“She’s got a bunch of improvement in her, which is what I want to see,” he said.
“Hopefully this is a lovely lead in to Magic Millions Day.”
Gollan will also saddle up Krone in Saturday’s Nudgee Stakes, with the six-year-old also lining up in her first start since April.
Krone was sold off to be a broodmare at the end of the Sydney Autumn Carnival, however she failed to fall pregnant, so she re-joined the Gollan stable in a bid to go back-to-back in the fillies and mares race on Magic Millions Day.
KRONE IS NOW A GROUP 1 WINNER!
SHE WINS THE COOLMORE CLASSIC 🏆 pic.twitter.com/RfE36uIaGo
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 13, 2021
“You’ll definitely see her Saturday – it wouldn’t matter if it’s a Heavy 10, she’ll be running,” the trainer said.
“She loves wet ground and probably brings the race into her favour that way.
“She’s not a noted first-up horse, even on wet ground I wouldn’t be too shocked if she just runs a nice midfield.
“I just want to see her jump and just travel nicely and just see her finish her race off well, and we’ll see a lot better horse second-up.”
Krone has also drawn well in barrier six for Georgina Cartwright, while the pair’s stablemate, Miami Fleiss, will have to overcome the outside barrier (18) if she is to record back-to-back Listed wins.