Missy Longstocking is ready to return to racing in Brisbane after a mixed Melbourne spring campaign.
The filly won a 1000m jump-out at Eagle Farm last Tuesday which convinced trainer Liam Birchley she was in perfect shape for Saturday’s Listed Mode Stakes (1200m) at Doomben.
[include file=”inpost_adrotator.php”]
Birchley has kept Missy Longstocking fresh since she returned from Melbourne following her ninth to Zoustar in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 2.
“I just eased up on her and let her have a play in the paddock during the day with minimal work in the mornings at the track,” Birchley said.
The trainer believes the filly was disadvantaged by not having a hit-out on the course-proper at Flemington in the week leading up to the Coolmore.
“She looks around a lot in her races and it’s hard for horses going down the straight the first time because they’re always looking for a bend,” he said.
“There’s never been a race where she hasn’t got to the line but she just got completely confused in the Coolmore that day.”
She went to the Coolmore after a comprehensive Group Three win in the Thoroughbred Stakes at Caulfield against her own sex and returns to fillies company in the Mode.
The jump-out confirmed she was on target for summer racing but Birchley stopped short of declaring her a certain starter in the Magic Millions Guineas.
“It’s probably one of her better efforts in a jump-out and she just had a nice stroll around,” he said.
“I just wanted to see where she was at and make sure she wasn’t too far behind with the time she’s had off since her last run in Melbourne.”
All going well after the Mode, Missy Longstocking will progress to the Group Three Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben on December 28.
Birchley wants to assess how Missy Longstocking copes with the 1350m of the Vo Rogue before committing her to a start in the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 9.
The only time Missy Longstocking raced beyond 1200m was in the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes when she finished ninth to Zoustar after a chequered run.
In-form apprentice Aidan Holt will be reunited with Missy Longstocking on Saturday.
Holt is standing in for regular jockey Damian Browne who was suspended for a month and fined $5000 for careless riding by Perth stewards after riding Buffering to a narrow win in the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on November 23.
Holt has an unblemished record from two rides aboard the daughter of Sequalo.
