The Spring Season Trap

Published: 14 Sep 2014

The Kingston Town Stakes at Rosehill Gardens presented an early Spring season trap for punters. The well-bred, and very popular, 'La Amistad' lined up over 2000m in the Kingston Town Stakes. Most will have heard of her given she is a close relation to three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, but it isn't just blood-lines that make her popular. Some strong performances last preparation had her on the radar as a potential Melbourne Cup chance.

So with a blue-blood pedigree and big Spring targets ahead, the Group 3 challenge on Saturday should have surely been a walk in the park, right? Wrong.

Bookmakers cheered and professional punters sniggered as she waddled into the yard. She simply wasn't ready.

Just not ready - La Amistad was clearly not 100% fit on Saturday

Ready to go - She paraded in great fashion ahead of the W J Mckell Cup in May

Perhaps her trainers, the Hawkes team, have been taking it easier with her this campaign, or perhaps the rain has kept them from putting her through some fast work. Either way, the pre-race interviews didn't contain the key insight that really mattered.

So keep a close eye on the yard, betting markets, the race guide and your hard earned. It's too easy to fall for the trap.