Trainer John McArdle knows an x-ray glitch gave him the opportunity to have My Gladiola in his Mornington stable, but everything she has done since has made her a million dollar filly.
The daughter of I Am Invincible was a $550,000 steal at the yearling sales and could deny a colt from becoming the next big thing in Australian bloodstock by winning the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Saturday.
While there was some luck at the sales, it hasn’t really been matched on the track yet, even though she has earned nearly $500,000 in stakes.
“She was a million dollar filly every day with a slight x-ray problem. If she didn’t have that she would be with someone else,” McArdle said. “There were a few vets that were worried about, but mine thought she would be right and he was right.”
“Fortunately, Kia Ora vet was the same, and they stayed in and she has never had a problem.”
“From the first time we galloped her, we have liked her and she has lived up to it on the track and with a touch more luck, she would have a few more wins.”
“I remember the first time Jamie [Mott] came back on her, he said ‘I like her’, and I said ‘so you should’.”
“This is where we thought we would end up this spring.”
My Gladiola arrives with only two wins from six starts, but is proven down the Flemington with a win in the Cap D’antibes against the fillies before the narrowest of defeats in the Danehill Stakes to McGaw.
“She probably could be unbeaten this spring, because she was only just beaten in the Quezette [Stakes] as well,” McArdle said.
“Her form says she is quite good down the straight, but I think she is better around a bend.”
My Gladiola has drawn the rails, which continues her poor run of luck by taking away options, as McArdle had wanted to track the speed in the Coolmore.
“You get barrier one and it is usually all right, but in this case it was the worst draw,” McArdle said. “She is a filly that is good in a stalking role and I wanted to be near the speed horses, so she could come into the race when she needed too.”
“All the speed is drawn out wide, so she is not going to get near them from the draw, but if she relaxes she will be giving them a scare late on.”
“She is already that million dollar filly but a win on Saturday would take her to another level.”
