Mistress Takes on Headliners in Jewel Qualifier Affair

Rookie two-year-old filly Cryptic Mistress couldn’t be facing a bigger test on her first day at the races at Cluden Park on Friday.

The daughter of Encryption will make her debut in the feature NQ QTIS 2YO Qualifier (1000m) against a hot field that includes the unbeaten Better Blitzem and Gone Country.

While the filly is the most inexperienced runner in the seven-horse field, her trainer Megan Purvis is expecting her to acquit herself well after a pleasing jump out behind Better Blitzem on Monday.

“I know Better Blitzem has the wins on the board and is really advanced, but her jump out was good and I thought I’d start her,” Purvis said.

“This is my first two-year-old runner so it’s pretty exciting.

“She’ll try her best and this will be a big experience for her. Her jump out on Monday was good.  She was probably five lengths behind Better Blitzem who was sent along and we were just behind them with a nice hold.

‘She beat the rest by a few lengths and ticked every box you want for a two-year-old.

“Last prep she trialled and was very green behind Better Blitzem and just wasn’t ready for Pallarenda Stakes.

“She went to the paddock in Clear Mountain in Toowomba for two months.

“This time in she’s going a lot straighter and she’s pleased us with her progress. 

“I know it’ll be very tough on Friday and realistically I’m looking at a 1000m maiden in March, but you never know with the babies.

“Look at Tom’s (Button) Dub Stepping which is in the race. It didn’t do much first up but came out and won next start in Mackay.”

Like Friday’s leading contenders Better Blitzem and Gone Country from the Georgie Holt stable, Cryptic Mistress is being aimed at the Capricornia Two-Year-Old Classic (1200m) in April.

Purvis, whose mother Wendy is in the filly’s ownership, liked what she saw at last year’s Rocky yearling sales and purchased her for $12,000.

“She’s a solid type. Doesn’t have the prettiest head but she’s very quiet and has that nice pedigree with Hezahome in her family and he was a smart two-year-old who ran second in the Rocky classic,” Purvis said.

“I’ve brought her along slowly. I want her to last for the long term and not be pushed too hard as a 2yo.”

The smart Better Blitzem holds favouritism for the feature after brilliant wins in Townsville’s prestigious Pallarenda Stakes and Mackay before a spell.

Premiership leader Aidan Holt will ride the Better Than Ready colt while Adam Sewell will again partner Gone Country who has also won her only two starts.

As well as having the best form horses in the race, the Holt stable will also be superior in numbers with the improving Scarlena and flighty filly Tambo’s Sister also engaged in the race.

Bowen trainer Tom Button will round out the field with Mackay winner Dub Stepping and Mersey Lass.   

The Jewel Qualifier heads a bumper 10-event card which includes extra races following last week’s washed out meeting.