Trish Dunell Photography
Securing a stakes win for talented mare Ja Ja Binks is the top of the priority list for Cambridge trainers David and Emma-Lee Browne, but expectation is low for her return to racing at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The Falkirk five-year-old mare did nothing but impress in her first campaign, which saw her net three wins from seven starts and never finish further back than fourth - and culminated in her Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) second at Awapuni in April.
"We're definitely chasing black-type with her this preparation but we'll just get through this weekend and see where we’re at with her, see how she's coming up," Emma-Lee Browne said.
"She's probably going to need the run on Saturday. She's had a couple of trials but we put her out for a spell after her trial at Te Teko in early August because she doesn't handle heavy tracks and doesn't really like the spring.
"She's been working well and finishing off strongly but we are just at the start of where we are wanting to be heading.
"We'll see how she's coming up by how she runs on Saturday and whether she's wanting more distance. We might be struggling to get into some of the bigger races with her rating at the moment."
Ja Ja Binks will need to win her way into races such as the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 1 and the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 20 that the Brownes have her nominated for.
However, she has undoubted ability and that could see her surprise her trainers, who double as her owners, when she tackles Saturday's Brookby Stables (1100m) at Ellerslie.
Matthew Cameron has his first ride on Ja Ja Binks on Saturday. - NZ Racing Desk.