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Nervous anticipation has been in the air in Ebony Turner’s barn this week as the Riverton horsewoman gets set to line-up her first stakes runner at Gore this weekend.
Turner, who is in her second season of training, will be represented by last-start winner Drakaina in the Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m) on Saturday, and she is hopeful her filly can gain some valuable black-type.
"It is pretty exciting to be lining up my first stakes runner this early on in my career, but also pretty scary at the same time," Turner said.
"She is working really well but it is a pretty tough field, as you would expect. If she brings her A-game to the table she will definitely be competitive. Fingers-crossed she does everything right."
Turner spotted Drakaina in an online sale last year where she was being offered as an untried two-year-old by breeder The Oaks Stud. She was immediately taken by the daughter of Ace High and went to $3,000 to secure her.
"I found her on Gavelhouse and fell in love with her. I said to my mum that I have to have this horse," Turner said.
"She is a tough wee filly. She has tested me a few times, but it has paid off."
Drakaina was unplaced on debut at Ascot Park in November before breaking through for her maiden win in impressive fashion in her second start at Gore on Christmas Eve, scoring by 3-1/2 lengths, giving Turner the confidence to push on for a southern Guineas campaign.
Drakaina has drawn barrier 11 for Saturday and will be ridden by Rohan Mudhoo.
"Ideally we would have preferred an inside draw because she does prefer to go to the front and have clear air," Turner said.
"We will see how the day is panning out and make a plan closer to the race. I like to leave a lot up to Rohan with these more front-runner type horses, he knows how they feel and what they prefer."
If she performs up to expectations on Saturday, Turner said Drakaina will likely head towards the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1600m) next month.
"If she is competitive on Saturday then we will look to go the Southland Guineas, but we would likely miss the Dunedin Guineas (Listed, 1500m) because I don't want that quick of a back-up for her," she said.
Turner will also line-up fellow three-year-old filly Caffeinated in the Country & Co (1335m), the opening race of the 11-race card.
"The nominations for Saturday are incredible, which is great for Southland. It is pretty cool to have an 11-race card," she said.
"Caffeinated had a bad experience in her first start at Riverton so we are taking her to Gore and just hoping for a better experience behind the gates and more of an honest run because she has got plenty of ability as well.
"She just needs to take a wee breather and take it all in."
Turner is loving life as a trainer and is glad she plucked up the courage several years ago to approach local trainers Kelvin and Aimee Tyler for a job, and she said the father-and-daughter duo gave her a solid grounding in the sport.
"I was self-taught, along with mum, with hacks," she said. "I got an off the track thoroughbred that made me fall in love with the breed.
"I then decided to go down to the local stable of Kelvin Tyler and ask for a job and I worked there for five years. He was really good to me and I learnt a lot. I then had a year off and decided I missed it way too much and instead of coming back to work for someone I thought I would have a crack myself and I am pretty happy with my decision."
