Gold Coast-based trainer Bryan Guy is eagerly awaiting the performance of his progressive filly In A Tangle at Doomben this Saturday to see whether she shows enough for a shot at next month’s Queensland Oaks.
A three-year-old daughter of Bradbury’s Luck out of Woodman mare Tied Up, In A Tangle is one of a capacity field of fillies set to contest the $175,000 Group 3 The Roses (2020m) on Doomben Cup Day this Saturday.
The Peter Snowden-trained Divorces is favourite for both The Roses and the Queensland Oaks
The race is one of the traditional lead-ups to the prestigious $400,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 4.
Favourite for both The Roses and the Oaks is Peter Snowden’s in-form Domesday filly Divorces after her powerful win in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) on May 7.
However Guy is confident that In A Tangle, who he purchased for just $26,000 as a yearling at the Magic Millions Sales, can race competitively again on Saturday after having finished second to Divorces in the Bracelet last start.
“I’m very happy with her since the Gold Coast Bracelet and she seems to have trained on well,” Guy said.
For The Roses, In A Tangle has drawn wide with barrier 11 and is due to be ridden by top hoop Jim Cassidy.
She sits as a $14 chance for this weekend and at $17 odds in the early Queensland Oaks markets.
Prior to her effort in the Gold Coast Bracelet, In A Tangle showed her liking of the Doomben track when winning the Sky Racing Handicap (1350m) on March 26 before two unplaced runs.
Guy is hoping that Cassidy will want to continue his association with In A Tangle for next month’s Oaks after his ride on her in The Roses, which will be his second time aboard after having ridden her in the Bracelet.
Cassidy will be seeking his second Queensland Oaks victory following a win on Bravery back in 1988 for trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith.
“Jim was rapt in her (In A Tangle’s) Bracelet run,” Guy said.
“It was the first time he’d been on her and he had to keep urging her along because she settled so well.
“She got on the back of Divorces but the winner sprinted too well for her.
“When I rang Jim’s manager I told him not to worry too much about her previous runs.
“She got back to last the day she beat only a few home at Doomben (14 of 16 over 1350m on April 9) and then she came from last the day she flew home and ran eight in the Princess Stakes (Eagle Farm on April 23).
“She was only beaten a few lengths (four) in the Princess Stakes.
“It was a great run which gave us the confidence with her for the Gold Coast Bracelet.”
Whatever happens on Saturday and in the upcoming Oaks, Guy is sure In A Tangle has a promising future as a staying mare next season and beyond.
“I think she’s got a good future and she’ll make a nice stayer late on,” Guy said.
“I’ll get the Oaks out of the way first but she could end up in Melbourne for the spring.”
