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Jillian Morris’ season looks set to gain further momentum at Wingatui on Wednesday where she rates Passito as her best chance.
The Christchurch-based jockey has retained the ride on Wednesday aboard the Steven Prince-trained five-year-old in the White Robe Lodge Handicap (1200m) following their victory at Gore.
Passito was resuming there following a six month break and she led all the way to defeat last season’s Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (1600m) winner Showemup.
“She’s quite a smart mare and I think she surprised Steven a wee bit, he thought she would be competitive but maybe not win first-up,” Morris said.
“He thinks quite a bit of her and she bounced out and put herself right there and got to the line really strongly.”
Passito, who will drop back from Rating 90 company to 80, has drawn well and has won second-up in the past.
Morris is now back to full health and fitness after a nasty fall at Ashburton a year ago that side-lined her for 10 months.
“I broke my collar bone and it didn’t heal properly so three months later I had to have more surgery, it was quite a bad break,” the 33-year-old said.
“I also fractured three vertebrae in my lower spine and my whole right side was black and blue. It takes a while to build up fitness after a long time off, but I’m back there now.” – NZ Racing Desk.