Promising filly Tropical House won't be overlooked again by punters at Murray Bridge
Trainer Jake Stephens prepared the three-year-old to blowout wins at Balaklava ($21) and Morphettville ($31), but it won't be an upset if she wins again on Saturday, currently at $9 with Sportsbet for a Benchmark 68 (1400m) assignment.
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The filly finished sixth on debut, beaten three lengths, and while Stephens was surprised to see her at generous odds second time out at Balaklava, he had no doubt she could make a mockery of that figure, which she did, winning by 1¼ lengths.
'It was a funny one, the market normally gets it right,' Stephens said.
'I said to the owners, 'whatever she does in this first start, she'll improve a hell of a lot on, she'll improve at least five lengths off that'.
'I think a few of them were pretty happy because they backed her each-way at Balaklava.
'Some guys got $45, she was $41 at Morphettville.'
A lack of market support surprised Stephens pre-race at Morphettville, to his eye the filly was indicating she could win again.
The Victor Harbor conditioner's confidence was well-founded, as Tropical House accounted for $1.90 favourite Storm Season, running out a 1½-length winner over 1533m.
'I told them (owners) she should be very hard to beat, she's in good order now, and then when I saw the price, you get less confident, don't you?' he said.
'You think, does the market know something I don't? But it was an easy watch.'
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A pesky cough saw Stephens choose not to accept with his home-bred filly for a 1500m contest at Gawler last Saturday.
The filly is over that a week later, and Stephens rated her a strong chance ahead of her fifth-career start.
'It's like us, if there's any issues with the lungs, they often go well below average, it's not one of those things you want to do,' he said.
'When they're not right, I hate running them.
'I think 1400m, she'll be right in it and should run really well.
'She's still got improvement in her, but I still think she will be hard to beat. She's very tractable, she's got a super turn of foot.
'The other day in the trial (July 3), they went hard and she just blew them away at the end.'
Jockey Andrew Stead, and Stephens (right) celebrate Tropical House's win at Morphettville. Picture: Makoto Kaneko
Stephens believes Tropical House will relish further ground, despite a speed gene test suggesting that she would be suited to shorter trips.
The filly is a daughter of the versatile Omaha Beach, who won Group 1's over 1200m and 1800m, her half sister Exopipi, who Stephens has also trained, is a winner over 2121m.
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If she impresses again on Saturday, Stephens may target a race in Melbourne.
'If she goes really well this week, we might head there, otherwise there's two weeks time here,' he said.
'She's a really good doer and eater, we could give her another freshen up and go to something in the spring maybe.
'Those mare's mile plus races are pretty enticing over the spring carnival, I think with her tractability, she would be pretty versatile on any track over there.'
Originally published as Promising filly Tropical House won't be overlooked again by punters at Murray Bridge
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