News

Speed approach works for Fiftyshadesofgrey

23 January 2014, 3:39 p.m.

A change of tack this preparation with the promising mare Fiftyshadesofgrey has reaped winning rewards.

The Savabeel four-year-old has been restricted to the shorter trips by trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott with the promise of further success to come in Friday’s Atkinson & Donaldson Plumbing 1400 at Rotorua.

“She’s out of a very fast mare who only won over 1000 metres so we’ve elected to bring her up with 1200 to 1400 metre races in mind,” Scott said.

While Fiftyshadesofgrey has won beyond a metric mile, the sprinting approach has worked this time in and she beat the capable Biddable three runs back. She then finished a solid sixth in Premier company before winning at Arawa Park.

“She’s really well and she’s coming along nicely, we’re very pleased with her,” Scott said. “She’s been an extremely slow-maturing horse and she still looks like a three-year-old.

“With another year on her she’ll be a capable miler - time is going to be her best friend.”

To be ridden again by Mark Du Plessis, Fiftyshadesofgrey has also developed an affinity for Rotorua and is unbeaten in two appearances on the course.

Stablemate Kaleidoscope further strengthens the Matamata trainers hand in the race, although Scott said the 1400 metres could be on the short side for the Pins mare.

“We might look to ride her a little bit quieter and she could be looking for a mile now.”

The stable also has high hopes for their last-start winner Tiger Moss, who will travel south to Trentham for the 2014 Queensland Winter Racing Carnival Premier on Saturday.

The light-tried four-year-old has won three of her eight starts and last time out she overcame an interrupted run at Tauranga to claim a Rating 75 event. Craig Grylls will continue his association with the mare at the weekend. – NZ Racing Desk.