Latest News

Gold Coast trainer Maryann Brosnan and is not too concerned about striking a firmer track at Ballina on Thursday as she chases a winning hat-trick with recent stable arrival Speranza.

The well-bred Speranza - by Exceed And Excel from the Sadler's Wells mare Mofajah - is unbeaten in two runs - both on rain-affected ground at Ballina - since joining the Brosnan stable in recent months.

Speranza's overall best form has been on rain-affected ground but the Ballina track is likely to be rated a Good 4 on Thursday when she tackles the Boxing Day Races@Ballina Benchmark 66 Hcp (1600m).

Speranza started her career with Godolphin trainer John O'Shea in Sydney, before the mare's current owner Robert Profilio purchased her for $28,000 at the Magic Millions Racehorse Sale in 2015. Speranza then had stints with four other trainers before arriving at Brosnan's stable this year.

The five-year-old had her first start for Brosnan on November 13, winning a Class 2 Hcp over 1255m on a Heavy 10 at Ballina, then won again at the track on November 27, dashing through a gap to easily win a Benchmark 65 Hcp (1410m) on a Soft 5 surface.

"She's certainly moved around a bit over her career but really seems to have improved since she arrived here on the Coast," said Brosnan.

"We have her on the treadmill and also give her plenty of beach work and I think she's thriving with that variety in her training.

"She does like rain-affected tracks and certainly won't get those conditions again on Thursday, but the Ballina track always has some give in it. I don't think the track will be an issue.

"She obviously loves the Ballina track and the way she won the other day (November 27) the step up to the 1600m on Thursday should really suit her.

"I have to give Matty Paget a 10 out of 10 for his ride on her last start. Hopefully he can produce another gem on Thursday."

Paget settled Speranza second last on the fence from barrier nine at her last start at Ballina before dashing her through a gap in the straight for a dominant 2-1/4 length win over Redwolf, a rival again in Thursday's race.

Overall, Speranza has four wins of her 21 starts - three of them at Ballina. Her only previous run over the 'mile' was at Grafton back in July, 2016 when she finished 6th of 14 runners in a Benchmark 55.

The rail for Thursday's seven-race meeting will be in the true position.

View the fields, form and race replays for Thursday's Ballina meeting here.