Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star filly Miss Leopatra warmed up for her return to racing in dazzling style with a dashing win in a 2185m trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week.
Driven by Jocelyn Young for trainer Cameron Ross, Miss Leopatra set the pace in the five-horse trial and rated 1.57 in beating Annie Crocker by 13 metres after final quarters of 28.5sec. 27.1sec.
Miss Leopatra will resume racing after a four-month break when she lines up on the inside of the back line in the 2130m Taste Of WA Pace for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“It was a smart trial, and she track-worked really good this morning (Tuesday),” said Ross. “Barrier ten is a good draw for her first-up and if she races behind the leader, she will obviously be a good chance. She led in all of her five wins earlier this year and this will be a fresh test for her. I’m sure she will measure up; she is as good as any of them (her rivals).
“I can’t be more happy with how she is going, and whatever she does this week she will get better. She has a big month ahead of her and this will be the starting point to see where she’s at.”
After Friday night’s race Ross intends to start Miss Leopatra in the $50,000 Daintys Daughter Classic over 21130m on Friday of next week and in the $150,000 WA Oaks two weeks later.
The Colin Brown-trained Im Category Five appears one of Miss Leopatra’s toughest rivals on Friday night when she will begin from the coveted No. 1 barrier, with Maddison Brown in the sulky.
Im Category Five, a winner at five of her ten starts as a two-year-old, has yet to win this year when she has raced eight times for four placings. She has performed in good style from unfavourable barriers in her three starts in her current campaign.
Bet Im Hot has won in good style at her past three starts on country tracks for trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green. She possesses excellent gate speed and is a good frontrunner who will be suited from the No. 2 barrier.
Leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond will be represented by talented New Zealand-bred fillies Skinny Dippin, Manuka Bay and Cinch.
Skinny Dippin, to be driven by Deni Roberts from barrier four, will have many admirers. She has won twice in New Zealand this year before impressing at her Australian debut when she set the pace and won from star gelding D Mac, rating 1.54.6 over 2130m at Gloucester Park on July 20.
Manuka bay, to be driven by Kyle Symington from barrier six, is a promising type who has raced seven times for three wins and two seconds. Cinch has had 21 starts for five wins and six placings. She will be driven by Liam Elliott from barrier seven.