Little Miss Ombra back on right track

LITTLE Miss Ombra appreciated a return to her home track and some much-needed give in the ground to cause a boilover win at the Gold Coast this afternoon.
The Alicia Willick-trained mare finished last of 12 at Lismore at her previous start on December 4 and was sent out a $17 chance in today’s Stephen Jones F&M Class 1 Hcp (1200m).
But owner Louise Roche pointed out that the mare’s overall recent form was pretty good and, on those efforts, was a strong hope in today’s race.
“She really needs it soft and we would have loved a heavy track today instead of a dead rating,’’ she said.
“She just didn’t fire at all when she was having her third run is many weeks on a firm track at her last run at Lismore,’’ she said.
“But if you look at some of her recent runs back here at the Coast and on softer tracks she’s run third to Leealan and another third to Miss Judge, so on those efforts she had to be hope in this.
Roche, who formerly worked at Wadham Park, not only bred Little Miss Ombra, she also broke her in and educated her.
Ridden by in-form apprentice Tegan Harrison, Little Miss Ombra ($17) jumped straight to the front and had 1-3/4 lengths to spare on the line from Mia ($13) with a short half-head to Moroccan Dancer ($5) in third.
Harrison is now a clear leader on the Gold Coast apprentices’ premiership with 13 winners so far this season.
Story: Neil Archer
Photo: Trackside Photography Pty Ltd