Is Appin Girl the real deal?

By Glenn Davis

The training partnership of Steven O'Dea and Matthew Hoysted hope to know if unbeaten filly Appin Girl is the real deal at Doomben on Saturday.

Appin Girl won the Listed Dalrello Stakes at Eagle Farm last start prompting the O'Dea and Hoysted stable to take a leap of faith to run her in the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic over 1200 metres.

O'Dea and Hoysted have enjoyed great success in recent times winning their first Group 1 with Uncommon James in the Oakleigh Plate at Sandown in February.

If Appin Girl can climb "Mt Everest" and win the Spirit Of Boom, formerly the Champagne Classic, it will be the stable’s biggest win in their home state.

A home bred for breeder Howard Blight, Appin Girl is a half-sister to Sesar, who won the Group 3 Ken Russell Stakes at the Gold Coast and Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes in Sydney in 2018 for O'Dea. 

Her half-brother Doubt Defying was an eight-time winner including victory in the Listed Sale Cup in Victoria in 2018.

Appin Girl has never been beaten on the race track, winning her first barrier trial at Doomben in March, before scoring a dominant victory on debut at the Sunshine Coast in a 1000 metre two-year-old race on April 2.

After another barrier trial win at Deagon, Appin Girl made her opposition look second rate when she downed the Chris Munce-trained She’s A Rogue by almost two lengths in the Dalrello Stakes over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm on April 29.

Co-trainer Hoysted has no concerns about the daughter of Capitalist stepping up to 1200 metres for the first time.

“She’s a very talented filly and from barrier one she should be able to jump and get a smother,” Hoysted said.

“It’s still in her first prep but she couldn’t have been more impressive winning last start.

“She’s been getting to the front a bit too soon in her races and has stargazed a little.

“She hasn’t learnt to put them away but that’ll come with experience.”

Hoysted is keen to see how she performs against Group company before determining her future.

“She’s nominated for the Sires’ Produce but we’ll see what happens on Saturday,” he said.

“I’d say she’ll probably go to the paddock after this run.

“She’s only third-up and can be a bit strong on the bridle so if she gets some cover, she won’t have a problem with 1200 metres.”

Hoysted believes the Spirit Of Boom is a tough race with a number of chances.

“It’s a good race and the two from the Snowden stable, Empire Of Japan and Sovereign Fund, look dangers but it’s hard to line up their Sydney form," he said.