Thames Court on track for Sydney debut

David Brideoake wants to wind back the clock after racking up the mileage.

A year after he brought Griante up from his Mornington stable to Sydney to snare the Group One Galaxy, the Victorian trainer is hoping Thames Court follows a similar pathway at Rosehill on Saturday.

The four-year-old mare makes her Sydney debut in the Coolmore Classic and Brideoake is drawing inspiration from Griante’s exploits.

Griante won the Group Three Wenona Girl Quality at Randwick in March 2015 on her Sydney debut and her second trip north was even more profitable when she won the Galaxy.

Thames Court is rated a $26 chance but Brideoake is encouraged by her lead-up form at Caulfield, particularly her second to Silent Sedition in the Group Three Mannerism Stakes on February 25.

“Admittedly she has not gone to Sydney before so there’s a few unknowns but she should be able to cope with the trip,” Brideoake said.

“I know she’s not one of the short-priced horses in the race, but she’s raced at Group One level before and accounted for herself pretty well.”

Thames Court was eighth of 12 in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield last October but Brideoake was confident she would fare better over 1500m in Saturday’s feature despite confronting a heavy track for the first time in her 13-race career.

“She has trialled on heavy ground and she seems to get through it,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to running her in a high class race. I think she’s a high quality mare and should put her best foot forward.”

Should Thames Court make a decent first impression Brideoake said she would target the Group One $1 million Queen of the Turf at Randwick on April 8.

“That’s on her her path if things go the right way,” he said.

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