Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Trainer Michael Munro has five-year-old mare Candy Apple racing in top form, and he is confident she will improve even further.
Candy Apple, driven by Toby Lynn, was the $2 favourite from barrier No. 3 in the $23,000 Bridge Bar Pace over 2130m, and she was not extended in setting the pace and winning by two lengths from the $4 second fancy Blaze Away, who fought on doggedly after racing without cover for the final two laps.
Candy Apple rated 1.56.8 after dashing over the final 400m sections in 28.6sec. and 28.2sec. Her past seven starts have resulted in three wins, three seconds and a fading seventh after working in the breeze.
“She is starting to get to the top of her game,” said Munro. “She is improving every week, and I don’t think I have reached the bottom of her. Toby is driving her really well and things are going to plan.”
Munro is enjoying a highly successful time. He prepared seven-year-old mare Paroquet (driven by Lynn) when she produced a powerful performance to score a two-length victory over Lenora Jane over 2130m at Gloucester Park last Monday.
Paroquet began from the back line before surging forward to the breeze and then hitting the front 550m from home to record her 15TH win from 89 starts. She was a $22.60 chance after $51 was available earlier on the fixed market.
“Paroquet is a big horse who doesn’t like racing back in the field,” explained Munro. “She likes to race outside the leader where she goes about her own thing. She likes pressuring the leader.”
While Munro is more than happy with the form of Paroquet and Candy Apple, he is extremely frustrated at being unable to get four-year-old Rock N Roll World mare Queenie Daisy to the racetrack.
“Queenie Daisy is possibly the best of the three mares,” said Munro. “She has won easily at her only three starts (as a two-year-old at Pinjarra and as a three-year-old twice at Bunbury) but I can’t control her.
“She is worse than any stallion; she just attacks you and it takes about half an hour to get her in the cart, and then she kicks the cart and messes around. We plan to put her in foal to see if she quietens down.”