Trainer Mark Walker takes a lot of heart from the decision of Blake Shinn to ride Geegees Mistruth in an upcoming Group 1 race at Caulfield.
Shinn partnered Geegees Mistruth in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on September 5 and sticks with the mare for the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Sunday.
Geegees Mistruth finished fifth behind My Gladiola when resuming at Sandown in a race that changed little after the field had settled down.
A Group 1 winner in Adelaide to wind up her autumn campaign, Walker was delighted with how Geegees Mistruth returned at Sandown.
“She ran well,” Walker said.
“The first three around the corner, were the first three home, but I thought she ran really well and more importantly Blake is sticking with her.
“That’s a positive.
“Her sectionals were good, so we take a lot of positives out of the run.”
My Gladiola and Extragalactic, who finished in front of Geegees Mistruth at Sandown are opponents on Saturday, while Point Barrow, who finished almost three lengths adrift of the Walker-trained mare came out to score at Caulfield last Saturday.
Geegees Mistruth has raced at Caulfield on seven occasions, finishing in the money four times.
All four of Geegees Mistruth’s placings have come at Stakes level over distance ranging from 1000m to 1400m and include a second placing to Rey Magnerio in the Caulfield Sprint last October.
Geegees Mistruth’s one abject failure was when she failed to jump in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) in February, her only Group 1 start at the track.
The mare has again drawn barrier one on Saturday, a gate she has drawn in three of her past six starts.
“She’s got a good record at Caulfield without winning,” Walker said.
“It’s, arguably, a stronger field, than first-up, however the 1200 metres is going to suit her better, so we’ll have to see how she goes.”
