Next phase starts for Miss Icelandic

Gavin Bedggood believes he’s been set a task with recent stable acquisition Miss Icelandic, but he is excited about trying to take the Deep Field mare’s career to the next level.

The four-year-old will have her first run for the Cranbourne trainer in Saturday’s Sportsbet Bet With Mates Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield.

Miss Icelandic joined Bedggood from top Mornington trainer Matt Laurie, who prepared her to win five of 11 starts.

“She’s probably been really well-placed when you go back through her form and I’ve probably got a task now because she’s got to take another step up,” Bedggood said.

“But we’ll just give her a chance and feel our way with her a bit and reassess after Saturday on what we do going forward.

“If she was up to it, it would be great to try and get some Black Type with her before the spring rolls around and capitalise on her being up and going nice and early.”

Miss Icelandic’s only crack at Black Type came at her final start for Laurie, when she finished sixth in the Listed City Of Marion Stakes at Morphettville in February.

She was directed towards that 1200m event with three consecutive wins, the final one coming in benchmark 70 grade over the course and distance of Saturday’s event.

Miss Icelandic finished third in a 900m jumpout at Mornington on May 29 and was again third, over 800m, behind stablemates Shalaman and Mornington Glory at Cranbourne on June 17.

“I’ve only had the horse for three weeks and we gave her a jumpout last week and she trialled well just in behind Mornington Glory. I thought her trial was really good,” Bedggood said.

“She will be improved with the run, but I would think that she would still be thereabouts.”

Miss Icelandic, who holds down the $6.50 third in betting behind Kin ($4) and Mrs Chrissie($5), has the services of Ben Allen with the pair to jump from barrier two.