Jason Coyle is hoping the Esplin family’s progressive four-year old Pippali will follow in the footsteps of the Tartan-clad former stakes winners White Moss and Slightly Sweet in the months ahead.
Spelled after her third in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic on March 12, Pippali is set to open her suitably ambitious spring foray in Wednesday’s Territories @ Darley Handicap (1100m).
“There are better performed horses than Pippali at this stage of their careers for the races that we are targeting but this is a nice starting point,” Coyle said.
“She has a couple of trials under her belt and I think we are ready to go to the races
“She just needs to lift that benchmark rating up to get herself into some good form and then we can start assessing the races that we pencilled in for her later on.”
Pippali, thanks to her Group 3 placing, is already a highly valuable mare for the Esplin’s, but more so given her posh pedigree.
Pippali is a daughter of the stakes-placed Polaway who is herself one of eight winners out of the Golden Slipper winner Polar Success.
As for Pippali, she has performed admirably from 1200m up to 1600m giving the impression that she will be most effective in between those two trips.
“Based on her last preparation, I think 1400m will be her best distance,” Coyle said.
“I think she would have won the Kembla Grange Classic if it was over 1500m, it was just that last little bit of the mile that found her out.
“Every time we raised the bar with her she has been very good in everything she has done and it was nice to see her trial well, twice, this time in.
“Physically she is a better horse and hopefully that can convert onto the track this preparation.”
Coyle, meanwhile, is eager for his War Front grandson Bluff ‘N’ Bluster to make an overdue, but deserved, return to the winner’s stall in Wednesday’s TAB Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m).
“He was outstanding last start in a race that wasn’t really run to suit. His closing sectionals again were excellent,” Coyle said.
“He is a fit horse that handles the sting out of the track and has won on a Saturday previously so hopefully all the stars align for him.”