Daughter of Golden Slipper winner chases debut win

One of the most exciting unraced gallopers across the New England region takes her first steps on the road to an autumn feature when she debuts at Thursday’s Tamworth meeting.

Always A Rainbow, a powerfully built filly by 2015 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, tackles a Maiden Plate over 1400m to open her career.

Racing returns to Tamworth on Thursday.Credit: bradleyphotos.com.au

Stabled with Armidale’s leading horseman in Stirling Osland, Always A Rainbow is likely to jump favourite behind a strong and eye-catching trial at home on January 5.

Despite settling well off speed and over-racing in the early part, Always A Rainbow picked up under a good hold from the 200m and trucked through the line only half a length from the trial winner.

The filly could have easily won that trial, but in keeping with the stable’s preparation to run out seven furlongs on debut, she was held together right through the line in impressive fashion.

Out of the Hard Spun mare Tornado Gal who won four from eight up to BM 75 level in 2018, Always A Rainbow is being touted as a potential high-class middle distance performer.

She opened around an even-money favourite for her Tamworth debut ahead of progressive Scone four-year-old Shipping Shamus ($2.40) and Dunstall The Gun ($5.00) with a big gap to the rest.

Suited under the set weight scale carrying just 55.5kg, Always A Rainbow will be ridden by Ben Looker for the Ramsey Pastoral ownership.

All going well, she is likely to target one of the early NSW Country Championship qualifiers next month or in early March, and may even push on towards the Scone Cup over 1600m in early May.

The wide-open meeting is a crucial one for the Osland stable who also debuts four-year-old Odyssey Moon gelding Spot On The Moon in a Maiden Plate over 1200m immediately following.

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Despite not having been seen since a soft trial at Grafton last spring, Spot On The Moon was each way value, around $7.50 in early betting well behind Scone-based opening $4.00 favourite Eagleturn.

The Osland stable has four individual winners from its last 16 runners, including a double at the home meeting earlier this month.

But the stable is also desperate to rebound from one of the more disappointing days at Tamworth back just before Christmas when all four runners that day finished well out of a place.

The meeting also serves as a key lead-in to the feature Showcase Armidale Cup program on March 13, and a chance to nail down a berth in the $3million Big Dance at Randwick in spring.

Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au

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