After opting against a trip across the country to contest the Group 1 Goodwood (1200m) in Adelaide, Bunbury-based trainer Michael Lane has turned his attention to Sunday’s Group 3 Northam Stakes (1300m), confident that The Boss Lady is primed to strike.
Lane had seriously considered running The Boss Lady in the Goodwood following her solid performance in the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) last week, where she finished a brave sixth. However, with logistical hurdles and the high-profile return of Giga Kick to contend with, he made the late call to stay local.
“Adelaide was always in our minds post-Quokka, but everything has to fall into place when you go interstate,” Lane explained. “Between flights, floats, and long hauls from Bunbury, it just didn’t sit right this time.”
Giga Kick, potentially facing The Boss Lady with only a minor weight difference, added further hesitation to the plan.
“We had it lined up, but in the end, I second-guessed it. Her form is spot on — it was purely about the travel and timing,” Lane added.
The Boss Lady heads into the $200,000 Northam Stakes against 14 rivals and will jump from gate nine with Joe Azzopardi aboard.
The four-year-old has been in strong form, having dead-heated in the Roma Cup (1100m) last month before winning on protest, giving her a maiden Group 3 success. Her follow-up effort in The Quokka was full of merit, despite encountering traffic in the run home.
“She got caught up on the corner, which cost her a few lengths,” Lane said. “Take that away, and she’s right in the finish. She’s pulled up great and ready to go again.”
Lane is using Sunday’s Northam hit-out to gauge where The Boss Lady stands ahead of the upcoming Belmont Sprint (1400m), with future targets including the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and the lucrative Gold Rush (1400m) later this year.
With strong betting interest, The Boss Lady has firmed from $4.80 into $4.20 and now heads the market, displacing Saloon Bar, who has eased to $4.60. West Star and Magnificent Andy are also prominent in the betting.
Punters looking to back The Boss Lady in the Northam Stakes can find competitive odds and bonus offers at the top Australian betting sites.
