Victorian trainer Danny O’Brien will have a pair of runners in Saturday’s A$5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington headed by last-star Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) winner Inspirational Girl, while fellow Kiwi-bred Callsign Mav landed a late place in the field.
The Bob Peters-owned Inspirational Girl, a daughter of Reliable Man, is the $5.50 second favourite for the feature mile behind Zaaki ($2.90), who she narrowly defeated under set weight and penalties in the Blamey.
“I think she has improved, obviously she hadn't done a lot of racing in the 12-18 months before this autumn, so she's entitled to improve out of the couple runs she's had,” O’Brien told RSN.
“The work she's done since her Blamey win has been excellent, she looks terrific and she's mentally in a great place too. We can't have her any better going into the race tomorrow.
“It looks like a good draw (4) and the race does look like it will have a good genuine pace which I think will suit her, as long as she can muster enough speed early. We'd like to see her hold a midfield spot like she did in the Blamey. She was terrific late when she got out and she really wanted to chase the line. That's been a trait in all of her wins over in Western Australia as well, she's a very genuine mare.”
O’Brien said Zaaki was definitely the horse to beat, despite the favourite drawing widest in barrier 15.
Should she perform up to standard, Inspirational Girl will likely carry on to the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 2.
“Bob Peters has got her (Inspirational Girl) in the Doncaster and she's very well weighted, she's got 51.5kgs,” O’Brien said.
“So if she holds her form and races well or won there tomorrow then I'm sure Bob would think seriously about taking her up to Sydney for the Doncaster.”
While Inspirational Girl is likely to race midfield or worse, Kiwi expat Callsign Mav will no doubt be upsetting the tempo.
The former John Bary-trained galloper punctured late when finishing eighth in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) after sitting on a hot speed, and O’Brien believes the $41 chance will be suited back in trip.
“I don't think the preparation will be any real disadvantage for him, there's a real plus for him stepping back to the 1600m,” O’Brien said.
“It was a really strong 2000m there last week and just found him out for stamina late, but he's bounced out of the run very well and I think back to the mile is a lot more suitable for him.
“He really only knows one way and that's to bowl along up on the speed, that’s where he’s raced well all of his career and we won't be grabbing hold of him from out there (barrier 10) he'll be rolling forward.
“You’ve only got to go back to his run at Caulfield in the Carlyon Cup (Gr.3, 1600m), he beat Spanish Mission home that day over the mile and just got nailed on the line by Earlswood when carrying top weight. His form in New Zealand is top-class so I think he can run really well back to 1600m.” – NZ Racing Desk