Nick Olive has revealed that stable star Single Gaze is on track for a competitive return in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield Racecourse on September 2nd after winning a 900m trial in Canberra on Friday.
Single Gaze is on track to return in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on September 2nd. Photo: Steve Hart
Single Gaze has been a strong and consistent performer throughout her entire racing career so far; posting five wins and a further eight minors through twenty-two starts; highlighted by her impressive win in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in 2016.
Finishing worse than second only once through five starts during the recent Brisbane Winter Carnival, highlighted by a smart win in the Group 2 PJ O’Shea Stakes (2200m), Olive is pleased with the condition of the Not A Single Doubt mare and underlined the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) as the major spring target for the horse.
“She holds her fitness very well off these short breaks, and it’s when she races best when she’s had these short breaks and she comes in with residual fitness is when she has her best campaigns to be honest,” Olive told Racing Victoria.
“I was pretty happy with her. I thought she went great (in the barrier trial). She did it all herself, and came through it terrific.
“She’ll start off in the Memsie, that’ll be a starting point for her.
“She’ll do all her racing in Melbourne at this stage, the Makybe Diva and the Underwood maybe after that, and then the Caulfield Cup.”
Kathy O’Hara has partnered Single Gaze in eighteen of her twenty-two starts so far and Olive confirmed that the partnership is set to continue through the forthcoming Spring Carnival.
“They get on so well together, the horse just runs for her. It’s a good affiliation they’ve got that’s for sure,” he said.
Suffering a nasty fall during the running of the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) in 2016, Single Gaze missed ten months of racing while recovering, but resumed in autumn this year for mixed results.
Running well for third in the Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) third-up on March 25th, Single Gaze arrived in Brisbane for a smart win in the Listed Tail Stakes (1600m) on April 22nd, before finishing second behind It’s Somewhat in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m).
Sixth in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) leading into her win in the PJ O’Shea Stakes, the mare out of Redaluca’s Gaze was last seen finishing second behind Kiwi raider Chocante in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) on June 10th.
Single Gaze is currently available at early 2017 Caulfield Cup odds of $51 with leading online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au.
