Telperion mare ready to turn fortunes around

Ross Beckett is looking forward to an improved showing from his lightly raced mare Gemma Flitz (NZ) (Telperion) at Ashburton on Thursday.

The Yaldhurst trainer is expecting the daughter of Telperion to make her presence felt in the main event on the program, the Greg Jones Memorial Handicap (1300m).

Gemma Flitz has been out twice since a break and finished out of the frame when resuming at Riccarton in February before she was again unplaced at Ashburton after being forced to travel three wide without cover.

“She didn’t have much luck, and she should get a better trip this time and hopefully the track dries out a bit more,” Beckett said.

“I’ll be disappointed if she wasn’t in the first four and she’ll take further benefit from another run.”

Gemma Flitz began her career at Matamata and broke her maiden for the now retired Karen Fursdon, who remains in the ownership group, before relocating to Beckett’s operation.

“She came to me through a friend of a friend, she’s been a lovely addition to the stable and I wouldn’t mind a few more like her,” he said.

Gemma Flitz has since prospered on the synthetic track at Riccarton where she has been a five-time winner, including three on the bounce during the winter.

“She won those three and we turned her out, she likes a good track and we haven’t had a summer in Canterbury this year,” Beckett said.

He has no set plans for the seven-year-old, who is yet to run beyond 1400m in her 26-start career.

“We’ll get through Ashburton first and then I would like to get her up to a mile somewhere,” he said.

Gemma Flitz will be partnered by leading South Island apprentice Donovan Cooper who has 34 winners to his credit this season and closing in on his previous best tally of 37.

Meanwhile, stablemate Canterbury Flight (NZ) (Verdi) will be chasing an elusive and richly deserved breakthrough success in the Supporting Dynamic Gymnastics Maiden (1600m).

She has finished runner-up in four of her last five appearances and will again be ridden by Yogesh Atchamah.

“She’s been a bit stiff not to have won a race and hopefully she gets a nice trip and this time we get a bit more of the money,” Beckett said.

His other representative will be Grouse (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who will step out in the Agraforum Comcat Maiden (1400m) with Cooper to also guide her chances.

The Darci Brahma mare finished midfield last time out on the course but had little go her way in the run home.

“She went a very good race the other day, she didn’t have much room on the fence and the 1400m will help her a wee bit more,” Beckett said.