The Guy Walter-trained Duke’s Lass is largely expected to bounce back from a last start flop in the opening event at Goulburn on Monday.
Duke’s Lass contest the Goulburn Sand and Soil Maiden Plate (1400m) which shapes as the easiest assignment the filly has been given during her short career to date.
The Duke Of Marmalade filly has to date raced in metropolitan and provincial company.
A fifth behind stablemate and subsequent Adrian Knox Stakes runner up Missvonn reads well as does her fourth behind the talented David Vandyke-trained Vayakhan who has since won at Warwick Farm.
Monday’s Goulburn Sand And Soil Maiden Plate doesn’t seem to possess anything of that quality and all signs point to a career best result for Duke’s Lass.
Duke’s Lass contest’s the event off a well held 11th on the Kensington track last start behind another subsequent stakes placegetter in Singing Flame.
She simply got too far back on that occasion and was never in the mix.
From an inside barrier, expect Blake Shinn to ride her more positively than has been the case in the past.
Tough conditions greet runners at Goulburn on Thursday with the track currently rated a Heavy 9.
Ideally the pair will be able to move off the fence and dropping back from 1800m, should handle the 1400m on genuine rain affected ground well.
The filly's only look at rain affected ground came at her debut when a closing fourth at Warwick Farm behind Glenbawn Dame.
These testing conditions are responsible for Monday’s meeting at Goulburn being decimated by scratchings.
A number of key chances have been scratched from the opening event at Goulburn today, namely Savanero, Proposition, Majaska and Got To Think.
The main danger for Duke’s Lass appears to be Our Beni Boy.
The Neville Layt-trained gelding has been solid in both runs this campaign at Canberra.
He should appreciate the distance rise third run from a spell and seeing him prominent at the finish would come as no surprise.
There is a noticeable difference between the career best Timeform figures of Our Beni Boy and Duke’s Lass however suggesting the former does need to find improvement on his performances so far this campaign.
On ratings, you are clutching at straws to find other genuine chances in the event.
