Soubrettes set for second crack at Telegraph

Matt and Mandy Brown are keen on a summer return to Trentham with their quality sprinting mare Soubrettes.

The husband and wife training partnership have a second attempt at the Gr.1 The Telegraph high on their wish list for the gifted galloper.

“We want to give it another crack,” Mandy Brown said. “She’s going super and she’s gone from strength to strength. She’s a quirky little thing and mentally she’s a lot stronger as well.”

Soubrettes finished fifth in the Wellington feature earlier this year and made her first appearance since then with an impressive winning return in the Dyer Decorating Open Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday.

“There’s a lot of improvement in her,” Brown said. “In the autumn I was really disappointed the way she trained off so in her best interests she went for a spell and she’s come back really well.”

Soubrettes jumped well to follow the leader and once clear in the straight she lengthened stride for regular partner David Walsh to remain undefeated in four appearances on the course.

“It was a lovely ride by David and she will learn a lot from racing on the fence,” Brown said.

Soubrettes is now on target to defend her Gr.3 Stewards’ Handicap title at Riccarton in November.

“We’ll do the same as last year, although she may have another race somewhere before the Telegraph,” Brown said.

Soubrettes’ victory came at the expense of the Kevin Myers-trained Overtheriver with Pacific Choice third ahead of Toma Valea, who ran on well from the back of the field.

“He was pretty big in condition and he’ll probably have one more run before the Stewards, he’s a class horse,” said Michael Stokes, who prepares Toma Valea with his wife Tarsha.