Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Serpentine trainer-reinsman Stuart McDonald is forecasting a bright future for four-year-old mare Madam Publisher, who revealed sparkling gate speed before scoring an easy win in the $21,000 Trotsynd Syndication Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Madam Publisher, the $2.10 favourite, sizzled straight to the front from the No. 6 barrier before setting a brisk pace and winning by just under two lengths from fast-finishing $10 chance Thelittle Master, with Ideal Muscle ($6) in third place.
The New Zealand-bred Madam Publisher gave her rivals little chance by sustaining a strong pace, with quarters of 29.2sec., 28.9sec., 28.4sec. and 29.3sec. She rated 1.55.5 and took her record to 17 starts for nine wins, four placings and $145,063.
“She is a high-speed horse who hasn’t had a whole lot of starts,” said McDonald. “She has been up in grade early in her career because she won a big race (the Group 1 WA Oaks last October), and I think, mentally, she is a long way off racing against the top mares.
“I think she has the speed to go with them, but I don’t think she is quite seasoned enough yet. I’ll see how she goes after this win before deciding whether to throw her in the deep end in the Empress Stakes next Friday night.
“It’s more than likely that I will give the Empress Stakes a miss and set her for the big races for mares at the end of the season. When I saw the lead time (37sec.) tonight I knew she would be comfortable.
“She had plenty left, and I only pulled the plugs because she is pretty hopeless by herself (out in front). I expect her to get better.”
Madam Publisher is by Rock N Roll Heaven and is the second foal out of Bettors Delight mare Hot Off The Press, who raced 23 times for three wins, six placings and $22,860.
Madam Publisher’s younger three-year-old half-brother Its Electrifying rated 1.52.2 when he won a 1660m event at Brisbane’s Albion Park by five lengths on Friday afternoon. That was Its Electrifying’s fourth win from four Australian starts after winning once from ten appearances in New Zealand.
Hot Off The Press is out of former star mare Classical, who earned $294,416 from five wins and ten placings from 23 starts. She won three feature events at Alexandra Park in 2002, including two at Group 1 level before winning a $177,000 feature at Addington as a three-year-old.