More bubbles for Champagne Aunty

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Steve Tregea is planning to strike while the iron is hot and will back-up in-form mare Champagne Aunty in the Class 6 Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Champagne Aunty was entered for two races, the Class 6 over 1835 metres and the Benchmark 78 Handicap over 1600 metres which would have seen him clash with stablemate Prioritise.

However, Tregea was reluctant to run Champagne Aunty and Prioritise against each other and has retained Larry Cassidy to ride her in the Class 6.

Champagne Aunty is chasing a hat-trick of wins after leading all the way to win over 1825 metres in a Benchmark 78 race at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

The five-year-old was ridden off the speed in her previous win when she powered home to down the Kris Lees-trained Predictable Miss over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm last month.

“Her last win was very good and she’s got a good chance again with a good draw and a good weight,” Tregea said.

“I’m not worried about the seven day back-up as she won at Ipswich then backed up about a week or so later at Toowoomba last summer.”

Tregea plans to start Champagne Aunty in the $125,000 Toowoomba Cup over 2100 metres on her home track on September 25 if she continues to progress.

Champagne Aunty is closely related to Tregea’s well-credentialed galloper Niccanova, who is a Group 3 and multiple-Listed winner with earnings of more than $1 million.

A daughter of Trusting, Champagne Aunty was named after one of Tregea’s daughters, Hannah.

“I named her after my daughter Hannah who always had a champagne in her hand during her university days,” Tregea said.

“Her two sisters used to call Hannah, Champagne Aunty.

“I said to Hannah I would name a horse after her one day and that’s how Champagne Aunty got her name.”

Tregea is undecided if Prioritise will run at Eagle Farm and will delay a decision until race morning.

Prioritise produced his best performance for some time when second to the David Vandyke-trained Dissolution over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm on August 14.

“It was a very good run and he should be competitive again if I start him but I won’t make a decision about until race morning.”