Former Victorian Miss Marielle has a new trainer and owner but it is her old form she will be striving to recapture when she makes her Sydney debut at Randwick.A daughter of outstanding sire Encosta De Lago, Miss Marielle was bought by Tom Kelly at the Australian Broodmare Sale but rather than send the four-year-old straight to stud, Kelly gave her to Joe Pride for another racing preparation.He will be hoping for similar luck to the new owners of Reggie who was also sold recently as a broodmare
Former Victorian Miss Marielle has a new trainer and owner but it is her old form she will be striving to recapture when she makes her Sydney debut at Randwick.
A daughter of outstanding sire Encosta De Lago, Miss Marielle was bought by Tom Kelly at the Australian Broodmare Sale but rather than send the four-year-old straight to stud, Kelly gave her to Joe Pride for another racing preparation.
He will be hoping for similar luck to the new owners of Reggie who was also sold recently as a broodmare prospect before coming out and claiming the Caloundra Cup during the winter carnival in Queensland.
A dual Listed winner at three, Miss Marielle was runner-up to Absolut Glam in the 2008 Group Two Thoroughbreds Classic (1500m) at Moonee Valley but failed to manage a place at her next five starts.
She has been off the scene since finishing last to Miss Badoura at Caulfield in October last year but Pride has been buoyed by her two barrier trial efforts since joining his stable, including a win in a Warwick Farm heat earlier this month.
Miss Marielle will line up in the Black Shoes Hcp (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday with stablemate Bejewelled among her rivals.
"I'd seen her race in Melbourne, she's got a good record and a lot of ability but she seemed to train off last spring," Pride said.
"I'm hoping to get her back to her best so we'll test where she's at on Saturday."
Runaway Sydney jockeys' premiership leader Hugh Bowman will ride Miss Marielle with apprentice Tommy Berry to partner Bejewelled who was also nominated for the 1300m Open Handicap before Pride decided it was too tough an ask.
The in-form mare has won two of her past three starts, including a success over 1400m at her most recent outing.
"I wasn't that keen to bring her back to 1200 metres but the 1300-metre race looked too hard," Pride said.
"In the past she's had a bit of trouble stringing two good runs together but she's very genuine, she probably just puts in so much she can't always back it up.
"But I'm sure she'll go very well on Saturday."