Talented mare Winter Bride returns to her favourite track when she tackles the Group Two Moreton Cup at Doomben ahead of a tilt at the Tatts Tiara.
Trainer Toby Edmonds and her owners, Segenhoe, have opted not to target the Stradbroke Handicap a week after Saturday’s Moreton Cup (1200m).
“We decided against the Stradbroke and she will be aimed at the Tatts Tiara (June 22),” Edmonds said.
“She is probably better placed against the fillies and mares at Group One class.”
The mare showed her talent to win two Group Three races at Caulfield in the Melbourne spring. She resumed with another Group Three victory in the Wenona Girl at Randwick in March.
She is already a valuable broodmare proposition but Edmonds would love her to get a Group One win to her name.
He sees the Moreton Cup as an ideal lead-up to the Tatts Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
“The Moreton Cup being at Doomben this year suits her. She has had four runs at Doomben for three wins and a second, so she does like it,” he said.
Winter Bride has not raced since finishing fourth in the Group Two Victory Stakes on April 27 but Edmonds said she had done well after a freshen-up.
The Moreton Cup was formerly the QTC Cup and was once considered major lead-up to the Stradbroke but no horse has completed the double.
It is now largely ignored as a Stradbroke lead-up with only eight runners in the Cup this year.