Most signs point to the favourite Secret Liaison in the Gold Bracelet (1400m) at Bendigo on Saturday.
Four wins from her past five runs including her last-start Caulfield success over Saturday’s trip, a good barrier and a relatively comfortable 58kg on her back all help justify the mare’s position at the head of markets.
But the stable has endorsed her credentials with a slight qualification – her stablemate Booklet.
“Booklet has a lot in her favour,” said co-trainer Simon Zahra.
“She comes in very well at the weights and she’s looking better than I’ve seen her in a long while.”
Booklet resumed from a disappointing spring campaign with a reasonable sixth over an unsuitable 1100m at Flemington.
Not surprisingly she couldn’t keep up, but worked home strongly over the final 100m behind Loveyamadly.
The extra 300m at Bendigo brings her into the race and from barrier three she should find a good position.
While Booklet can be less-than reliable, Secret Liaison is favourite because she’s the opposite.
Secret Liaison went almost a year without a win but in five runs this time in her only defeat came under a big weight when second over 1620m at Flemington in December.
Zahra said the mare missed her scheduled engagement at Flemington last week to focus on the Bendigo race.
“She’s been kept nice and fresh for this week and she’ll probably back up at Caulfield next Saturday,” he said.
Zahra and co-trainer Matthew Ellerton also have a strong hand in the $250,000 Vobis Gold Rush with the unraced youngsters Hard Stride and Leaps And Bounds.
Hard Stride, a half-brother to the handy Utah Saints, has performed well in jump-outs and is the pick of the pair at $11.