McPhoebe
Race Images Palmerston North
Otaki trainer Johno Benner is convinced his promising three-year-old filly McPhoebe is ready for her biggest challenge when she tackles her older rivals in the Te Power Rapa Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m) at Tauherenikau tomorrow.
The Makfi filly is coming in to the contest off the back of an unlucky run in the Gr. 3 Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes where she was finishing on strongly after getting well back from an outside barrier that day.
Benner was delighted with that performance and believes a better draw this time could make all the difference for his charge.
"She went massive in the Desert Gold and we were thrilled with the run," he said.
"She jumped well but had to go back and with the slow pace they set she really didn't have any business finishing as close as she did.
"She was four wide trying to get into the race and never stopped trying in the run home so all in all you couldn't be disappointed with the effort."
Despite winning over a sprint trip twice as a juvenile, Benner believes the filly will be best suited by more ground as she matures.
"She used to rip and tear into it as a two-year-old which meant she was never going to get past 1200 metres," he explained.
"This season we've tried to get her to settle in her races and it seems to have worked the oracle. She was very good winning first up after settling midfield and then went a cracker for second at Trentham when she came from the back again.
"We've got her nominated for the Oaks in March so you want to see her running on strongly in her races and she has done just that recently."
Benner knows the filly faces a stiff challenge in tackling the older mares but feels the opportunity to gain some valuable black-type is too good to pass up.
"It won't be easy as there are some tough mares lining up against us but we do have plenty in our favour including the weight advantage and great draw she has received," he said.
"I'd expect her to take up a prominent position if she jumps well and I'm hoping she will be right in the finish if things go her way." – NZ Racing Desk
The Makfi filly is coming in to the contest off the back of an unlucky run in the Gr. 3 Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes where she was finishing on strongly after getting well back from an outside barrier that day.
Benner was delighted with that performance and believes a better draw this time could make all the difference for his charge.
"She went massive in the Desert Gold and we were thrilled with the run," he said.
"She jumped well but had to go back and with the slow pace they set she really didn't have any business finishing as close as she did.
"She was four wide trying to get into the race and never stopped trying in the run home so all in all you couldn't be disappointed with the effort."
Despite winning over a sprint trip twice as a juvenile, Benner believes the filly will be best suited by more ground as she matures.
"She used to rip and tear into it as a two-year-old which meant she was never going to get past 1200 metres," he explained.
"This season we've tried to get her to settle in her races and it seems to have worked the oracle. She was very good winning first up after settling midfield and then went a cracker for second at Trentham when she came from the back again.
"We've got her nominated for the Oaks in March so you want to see her running on strongly in her races and she has done just that recently."
Benner knows the filly faces a stiff challenge in tackling the older mares but feels the opportunity to gain some valuable black-type is too good to pass up.
"It won't be easy as there are some tough mares lining up against us but we do have plenty in our favour including the weight advantage and great draw she has received," he said.
"I'd expect her to take up a prominent position if she jumps well and I'm hoping she will be right in the finish if things go her way." – NZ Racing Desk
