Trainer Grahame Begg feels confident that She’s A Hustler is over her previous exertions chasing Pride Of Jenni as the mare heads to Flemington.
She’s A Hustler is slated to compete in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday, and Begg is pleased that Pride Of Jenni is not entered for the race.
Begg suggests that the three previous meetings between Pride Of Jenni and She’s A Hustler during the Sydney and Brisbane campaigns in the autumn and winter might have taken a toll on his mare, who is also nominated for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, and Melbourne Cup.
“She was thwarted by wet tracks, and I think she might have had a bit of Pride Of Jenni hangover,” Begg said.
“Her first three runs back last preparation, she was in three hard run races.”
“It might have gutted her a bit. Instead of getting in a race where you could flow and go through your gears, each race was a high tempo.”
The competitive field has been reduced to 10 runners following the withdrawals of Birdman, Buckaroo, and Aeliana, meaning this intense pressure will not be present on Saturday.
Begg commented that the Makybe Diva Stakes on Saturday is the most suitable starting point for She’s A Hustler’s program leading up to the Caulfield Cup.
The next step after Saturday will be the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 3, followed by the Caulfield Cup two weeks later.
“It’s such a tight turnaround after winter,” Begg remarked.
“The right race for her is probably the Underwood over 1800 metres, but it’s only two weeks, two weeks (to the Caulfield Cup).”
“Going that way, you don’t get to have a three-week buffer.”
“It’s a very tight schedule, unless you started early in something like the Heatherlie, but she looks to be tracking nicely.”
“She’s got good residual fitness from Brisbane and having that has allowed us to kick off here as she raced right up until the middle of June and then she was able to have a bit of a break up there.”
She’s A Hustler has undergone two trials at Caulfield Heath in preparation for her return on Saturday, winning her most recent trial over 1400m.
“She took enormous improvement from her first trial to her second,” Begg noted.
“And her coat is really starting to move now.”
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