Kyleena appears well placed to return to the winner’s list when she takes on the www.northamraceclub.com Handicap (1100m) at Northam on Thursday.
The Dan-Morton-trained filly faces a sharp drop in grade after two competitive performances against smart types at Belmont Park recently.
The daughter of Scandal Keeper raced wide throughout but still packed enough punch at the finish to be placed a narrow second to Prohurst Express.
She then worked hard from an awkward to sit outside of leader Benito but just peaked on her run and ran 2 ½ length fourth to Nardini.
It followed back-to-back wins for Kyleena who broke her maiden status at Northam, holding firm against Happy With Kendel on May 5.
Happy With Kendel franked the form when he ran a bolter in Saturday’s Belmont Guineas (1600m), beaten for third in a three-way photo-finish.
Morton said he was happing to be making the return trip to Northam. “I’m going back in grade to hopefully pick one off,” said Morton.
“You could mount an argument she has been a little unlucky but I think it’s more of a case that she has run into better ones.
“I’m happy to be taking her back to Northam; she has won there before and likes the track.”
Apprentice Jerry Noske retains the Kyleena ride and will have her prominently placed from a gun draw in barrier four.
Dan Morton has a strong opinion of Little Miss Tidy, a starter in the Basil Galluccio Handicap (1400m), but he wants further confirmation.
The Danehill Express filly commenced her campaign in Kalgoorlie and split her three appearances with a dominant maiden win last month.
Morton brought her back to Perth and although beaten she wasn’t disgraced, bloused out for fourth when a length separated the first five runners.
“It was that close that I thought the judges might have made an error,” said Morton.
“She probably didn’t have enough clear galloping room and maybe needed to be rolling earlier.
“I know that she hasn’t shown much but I do have a pretty decent opinion of this horse.
“I think both my fillies down in grade will go well.”
Lindsey Smith believes Regal Weapon can show further improvement when she races second-up in the Ronald Peterson Maiden (1000m).
At her third lifetime start at Northam last fortnight the Musket filly ran an encouraging 1 ¼ length runner-up to Youknowthedrill.
“She dug deep in what I think was a pretty good maiden,” said Smith. “She will be thereabouts.”
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