Craig Newitt insists Samaready is in better physical health than she was before returning a career-best rating in her Moir Stakes triumph.
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And with a faultless attitude on the training track since last month’s Moir win, the jockey says Samaready is a worthy favourite for the $1 million Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
“I don’t know if she could improve a hell of a lot on what she did last start because she was just so dominant,” Newitt said.
“But she’s definitely improved fitness-wise so I would expect her to be pretty hard to beat.
“I just hope the track holds up OK.”
Samaready was in explosive form in the Moir, beating Buffering home by four lengths over the Manikato course.
It was her second win from as many starts since returning to the racetrack after a 12-month absence.
Such was her dominance in the Moir, Samaready is a clear-cut Manikato favourite at $2.70.
Samaready will renew acquaintances in the Manikato with Moir placegetters Buffering and Le Bonsir but Newitt thinks Hong Kong star Lucky Nine might be the horse to provide the most opposition.
Lucky Nine begins a two-start Melbourne campaign and is well performed on the world stage as the winner of Singapore’s KrisFlyer International Sprint over Manikato Stakes rival Bel Sprinter.
“He’s the only sort of fly in the ointment,” Newitt said.
“It’s a similar sort of field to what she (Samaready) met last start, so I think she’s only got to go there and produce what she produced the other day and she’s the one to beat.
“She’s given us no reason not to think she can.”
Queensland sprinter Buffering gets another chance to break through for a Group One win.
Trainer Robert Heathcote believes Buffering’s barrier 10 in the 12-horse field could be an advantage instead of a hinderance.
“Damian (jockey Damian Browne) will be able to cruise across and sit outside the leader,” Heathcote said.
“But if no one else wants to lead he can go to the front. It will also save him from getting cluttered up in the early stages.”
