News

Madam Gangster steals the show with dazzling win

8th Mar 2015

Herald Sun - Rod Nicholson - Saturday, 7 March 2015

MADAM Gangster was feeling the heat after plundering three consecutive races. So she went into hiding for a brief spell before emerging at Flemington to snatch the biggest haul of her life.

Trainer Lee Hope explained that the only reason he pulled the plug on the four-year-old mare’s exceptional string of wins in December was a heatwave which badly affected her.

But a couple of weeks in the paddock and a quick freshen-up had her all guns blazing to add the Group 2 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) to her booty.

“She has stepped up every time we have raised the bar. She just wants to win,” Hope said after she notched her fourth win and a second to her record since transferring from Robert Kingston.

“It got really hot after her third win and she was feeling the heat. So I gave her a couple of weeks off rather than pressing on and then was able to bring her back with pretty much all her fitness still there.

“The weather is far more to her liking now. I knew she was fit and ready to go in this. She deserves a Group win.”

Hope said that Madam Gangster, who was well-educated by Kingston, was now more mature and he would consider more black-type races for her, even a trip to Adelaide.

Madam Gangster, who started the $3.10 favourite, had one-and-three-quarter lengths to spare from the fast-finishing Girl Guide ($7) with Nadeem Lass ($26) a half-length away third.

Jockey Craig Williams was impressed by the mare who now boasts five wins and two placings from 16 starts and prizemoney of $250,000.

“Her previous trainer did a good job with her and now she has matured and she had this race won a long way out,” he said. “She was sharp and dominated that race. She has more wins ahead.”

Williams settled her in third position but stormed to the front and defied those trying to run home to catch her.