By MIKE DILLON
Flying Babe beat only three runners when she won at Avondale last start, but it was enough to send her out favourite in New Zealand's richest race, the $500,000 Mercedes Super Bonus Classique.
There is not a lot of Flying Babe, but for a little filly she is a gross type who has probably improved since her dashing Avondale win, achieved under 57.5kg.
"Very happy with her,"said co-trainer Colin Jillings yesterday.
"Her work Tuesday morning was just what we were looking for and I've got no complaints.
"I feel very sorry for the connections of Coup Ray, it's a long way to come from the South Island and draw No 17 barrier."
Jillings sees the No 7 barrier draw - Flying Babe will almost certainly start from No 6 with scratchings - as perfect.
"For a filly with a lof of speed she actually doesn't clear the gates that quickly. Once she gets going she's got a ton of speed, but it takes her those first couple of strides to get into action.
"If she'd drawn No 1 it would not have been as good."
Shinnecock will race in blinkers for the first time after turning in a shocker when more than eight lengths from Coup Ray at Trentham last start.
"I'm hoping the blinkers make a difference, but I'm not really sure why he went so badly at Trentham," said trainer Bruce Marsh.
In his three starts before Wellington Shinnecock had recorded two wins and a second.
"I had his blood done after the race and it was perfect.
"One thing I noticed watching the replays was that he floundered coming across the junction of the course proper. In saying that he looked gone at the same time, so perhaps he floundered because he was not travelling well, rather than the other way round."
Marsh said one other niggling thought is that he at no stage rated Shinnecock a natural 2-year-old.
"I said to the syndicate that we bought him as a nice 3-year-old type and that anything we get out of him at two will be a bonus.
"It could be that he's come to the end of it at two and he's simply looking for time out.
"But the race is $500,000, so you can't just put him in the paddock and think about the race. He has to go round and if he shows he's looking for a break, he can spell straight afterwards."
Marsh has been happy with Shinecock's training since fitting the blinkers
"We've been taking him between the Woodville and Palmerston North stables to try and get him used to travelling so we're hoping he'll arrive at Te Rapa a bit better."
Racing: Babe should be Flying
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