Trainers Ken Rae and Krystal Williams are hoping Illicit Dreams can get her Gr.1 Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) preparation back on track at Ashburton on Sunday in the Juice Signs (1400m).
The daughter of Vancouver was eased down in the concluding stages of the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m), finishing last in the 10-horse field last start, with a post-race veterinary examination putting the performance down to dehydration.
“We got her bloods done and she was quite dehydrated that day,” Williams said.
“With all the severe winds that we had down here, we ended up with no power or water for three days, so we couldn’t bring them into the boxes.
“She didn’t drink as much from the trough, she is quite fussy. Hopefully she has come right and will improve on what we saw last time.”
Illicit Dreams has pulled through the run well and Williams has been pleased with her work in the lead-up to her weekend assignment.
“She galloped well today (Thursday),” she said. “Jason Laking has been riding all of her gallops for me and he is happy with her. He knows her very well, he has been riding her right through.”
Illicit Dreams has drawn barrier 11 and Williams is hoping the wide gate will help jockey Tegan Newman find cover to help settle the three-year-old filly.
“She is just going too hard at the start and we would like to see her settle a bit more and show us we are heading in the right direction for the Guineas,” Williams said.
“This race will tell us whether she carries onto that.”
Williams will also line-up evergreen galloper The Buffer in the Agraforum Growing Innovation (1600m).
He has once again been lumbered with 62kg, but will get some weight relief courtesy of apprentice jockey Danika Wilson’s four-kilogram claim.
“Last start at Riccarton was a bit tougher for him,” Williams said of the gelding’s unplaced run in the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile Trial (1400m).
“It is a bit tricky now with the weight he carries and the fields he comes up against. This field is a bit weaker and hopefully the mile will be better for him.
“We would like to get him back to the country meetings. I am not sure whether he will start over 2000m for Cup Week yet. We will just play it by ear as he has had a lot of racing already.”
Williams’ team will be rounded out by Proisir filly Zlatna in the Gary McCormick Transport (1600m).
“She is a progressive type. She needs more ground and is still quite immature and green,” Williams said.
“Jasmine (Fawcett, jockey) seems to like her and thinks she has got ability. We are just trying to get a win with her and get her up over more ground."