Trainer raising the bar for talented filly

Ron Gussey is considering a Group Three test for his smart filly Midnight Mistress during the upcoming Auckland Cup carnival. The Avondale trainer’s confidence was boosted at Ellerslie this afternoon when his three-year-old went back to back with a strong winning performance in the Rating 65 sprint.

WS graduate Midnight Mistress beat a subsequent winner in Fully Funded on her home track last month and she has handled another rise in class with ease. She ran out the 1200 metres powerfully, prompting connections to eye the Westbury Stud Classic (1400m) on March 4.

“She’ll have one more run and then a spell – the further she goes the better she will be,” Gussey said. By Savabeel, she is out of the Listed Castletown Stakes winner Vera Pro Gratis, a daughter of the dual Gr 3 Cornwall Handicap and Rotorua Cup winner Nat The Brat.

Recent News
14 November 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

“The Carnival is Over”, and what a joy it was. Four days of top-class racing, renewed crowds, increased wagering; once again Melbourne has put on an event that they are so capable of. Is this the resurrection, partly, possibly, but a long way to go.

Read More
12 November 2026

Noverre’s Withallmywish Too Classy At Te Aroha

Having just her second start off the back of a debut third, the Ms V Tang bred and raced 3yo Noverre filly Withallmywish produced a professional display over 1150m at Te Aroha on Thursday to break her maiden in fine style.

Read More