Mowbray’s mares head to Winton

By Jonny Turner

A busy week of racing across the South Island starts for Brad Mowbray at Winton on Thursday.

Mowbray takes Pixie and Gypsy south from his Canterbury base before heading to Timaru on Saturday and Motukarara on Sunday.

Gypsy heads into race 7 at Winton on the back of a tidy fourth in her last start at Ashburton.

A big draw upgrade from barrier 10 in that race to barrier 4 on Thursday should make her an even bigger threat.

“She was just a bit fat first up at Addington, she held her own but didn’t make any ground, but she improved from that,” Mowbray said.

“She had a couple of weeks between races and it was a good improver’s run last Thursday at Ashburton, so she shouldn’t be far away (from her peak) now.”

Mowbray starts Pixie in race 8 on the back of a tidy win at Ashburton where she sat on the pegs and zipped home to score.

The same tactics could apply on Thursday.

“We gave her 10 days off after her first run then gave her a run at Addington and she went quite good.”

“Then she went really well at Ashburton.”

“She has got a bit of speed – she has got a good furlong in her.”

“It is a small field on Thursday, hopefully we can get a good spot and she will be finishing on.”

Matthew Williamson drives Pixie at the Winton meeting while Sheree Tomlinson takes the reins behind Gypsy.

Mowbray also steps out Sneak A Peak at Timaru on the back of a handy fourth at Addington on Show Day.

The five-year-old chased home Always Had Faith on a 54.8 sec last 800m, which she is unlikely to have to do again on Saturday.

“She has run fourth behind some smart horses at Addington and they have run 3.09 (for 2600m).”

“I would have thought this is a drop in grade, she just needs a little bit of luck from her draw (12).”

Mowbray heads to Motukarara next where he hopes the best version of Spicy Girl Becqui turns up in race 8.

“When she is in the right mind frame she is probably better than them, but we just don’t know what horse is going to turn up.”

Matthew Williamson also drives Spicy Girl Becqui and Sneak A Peak.