By Ray Hickson
Trainer Jason Deamer can see no reason why in-form mare Decadent Tale can’t make it four straight in what’s been a remarkable preparation at Kensington on Wednesday.
The five-year-old faces a distance test in the Bowermans Handicap (2400m) but it’s been distance, plus the application of a tongue tie, that Deamer says has brought out the best in her.
After kicking off her preparation with a maiden win over 1150m, a second-up failure saw Deamer apply the tongue tie and when he stretched her to 2006m at Port Macquarie in early June everything came together.
“She won well first-up then she went to Tamworth and was disappointing,’’ Deamer said.
“Mikayla Weir said she thought she got the tongue over the bit and she choked down. I think Mikayla was right, I’ve had a tongue tie on since and she’s never looked back.
“I was at the crossroads over whether to bring her back in distance or step her up but she’s really enjoyed going out to the extra distance.”
Decadent Tale, $3.70 with TAB on Tuesday, was placed in all five starts in her first preparation but Deamer said something changed when she returned for her second campaign and that’s what prompted giving her a go as a stayer.
Decadent Tale wins at Gosford on July 14
“Last prep she used to go a bit keen but this preparation she was more relaxed,’’ he said.
“She couldn’t keep up in the mile races so we gave her a go over the extra distance and she’s enjoying it. She’s settling in well and finishing her races off strongly.”
The mare, who was bred by part-owner Mick Russell, followed her Port Macquarie win, on a heavy track, with another success over 2200m at Scone on good ground before returning to the heavy and completing a hat-trick scoring over 2100m at Gosford on July 14.
Deamer concedes there is a small query over 2400m but she’s well placed with 59kg, only rising 1kg on her Gosford win which was also in a Benchmark 64.
“It’s not very often you see this type of race around and it’s a big benefit getting Dylan (Gibbons) back on board,’’ he said.
“At the 2200m at Scone she got back much further than expected and finished off strongly. With barrier one, Dylan on board, she should be able to get the gun run and have every possible chance to run out the distance.
“She’s showing no signs of training off, we space her runs out if possible and she seems to enjoy that.”
All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Kensington meeting