Goulburn trainer Mark Gee presents his consistent mare Wilful Spirit at Goulburn on Tuesday keen to convert her reliable form into win number two.
Gee has retained the services of the in-form Jay Ford on the galloper with the consistent earner tackling Race 4, the Twinstar Racing Class One Handicap over 1200m.
Wilful Spirit ($8.00 in early TAB markets) has been placed seven times in her thirteen career starts but win number two has proven an elusive outcome this campaign.
Her trainer says a few things helped him decide on a quick back up.
“She ran quite well last start and even though we would have liked a bit longer between races this race on paper suits her,” Gee offered.
Her latest run was a gutsy midfield effort in a class two Highway Handicap at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting a week and half back. The mare drew eight that day and had plenty of company up on the speed but still fought on gamely. She has rolled into the trifecta three times from five starts since resuming late in the summer, her worse result being fifth.
Gee is also pleased with how she has trained on since.
“She seems to be going well given the quicker turnaround and she is what I call reasonably honest.”
Wilful Spirit has on pace racing pattern which suits her moniker. Past performances suggest she has the speed to put herself into the race from gate seven at the 1200m. Gee believes that’s how she races best.
“Yes she seems to, she’s usually thereabouts up on the speed in her races.”
Gee isn’t too worried either about a track in currently rated in the soft range commenting….”going on previous form she should handle a Soft 6.”
Gee has been chipping away consistently in recent times with a team of eight currently on the books. He has garnered two wins and another three placings in the past two months from thirteen starters.
There’s also a healthy contingent of other Goulburn trainers supporting Gee in the pursuit of home track happiness on Tuesday including:
• Scotty Collings (Bleue’s Choice Race 2 & Miss Parmigiana – Race 8)
• Danny Williams (Rent A Rock – Race 8 & Southern Appeal – Race 6)
• Tash Burleigh (Taylor Be Swift – Race 6 & Love A Diamond- Race 8)
• Pat Murphy (Cellbridge – Race 4)
• Emma & Lucy Longmire (Huxton Creeper – Race 4 & Ma Lionne – Race 7)
• Danielle Seib (Charlemagne – Race 2 & Tudor Prince – Race 8).
Goulburn’s track is currently rated a Soft 6 for Tuesday’s eight race card which kicks off at 12.15pm.
PHOTO – Bradley Photos
