Tavi Bay has gone from first to last in her two starts this prep, but trainer Henry Dwyer is prepared to excuse the mare that will run at Sandown on Christmas Eve.
The four-year-old daughter of Tavistock lugged 60kg to victory when fresh at Flemington over 1700m during Melbourne Cup week, but finished last at the same track/trip five weeks later on December 10 - with the firm track attributed to her failure.
Dwyer said Tavi Bay can bounce back on Saturday, when she jumps from barrier 14 of 14 on the Hillside track.
"The temptation was there to go back to the paddock after her failure at Flemington the other day," the Caulfield trainer told Racing.com.
"I just think she didn't go a yard on the firm track the other day.
"She didn't hurt herself, but she didn't stretch out at all - she looked after herself.
"I'm hoping back on to a different track, with maybe more give in it, we'll see what happens - that's certainly her grade of race at the moment.
"If she can put her best foot forward, she'll be hard to beat there."
On Tuesday, Tavi Bay galloped over 1400m with a sharp 400m to finish on the Polytrack surface at Caulfield.
Michelle Payne retains the ride, and Dwyer noted the mare is tricky to handle.
"She needs to be made to do it a bit. She's a recalcitrant mare," Dwyer added.
"By the same token, she doesn't like the whip. She's got to be kitted to a bit, but it's still got to be a strong ride." -racing.com
The four-year-old daughter of Tavistock lugged 60kg to victory when fresh at Flemington over 1700m during Melbourne Cup week, but finished last at the same track/trip five weeks later on December 10 - with the firm track attributed to her failure.
Dwyer said Tavi Bay can bounce back on Saturday, when she jumps from barrier 14 of 14 on the Hillside track.
"The temptation was there to go back to the paddock after her failure at Flemington the other day," the Caulfield trainer told Racing.com.
"I just think she didn't go a yard on the firm track the other day.
"She didn't hurt herself, but she didn't stretch out at all - she looked after herself.
"I'm hoping back on to a different track, with maybe more give in it, we'll see what happens - that's certainly her grade of race at the moment.
"If she can put her best foot forward, she'll be hard to beat there."
On Tuesday, Tavi Bay galloped over 1400m with a sharp 400m to finish on the Polytrack surface at Caulfield.
Michelle Payne retains the ride, and Dwyer noted the mare is tricky to handle.
"She needs to be made to do it a bit. She's a recalcitrant mare," Dwyer added.
"By the same token, she doesn't like the whip. She's got to be kitted to a bit, but it's still got to be a strong ride." -racing.com