Lisa Allpress has never looked to have big shoulders.
She's going to need them tomorrow, because she will go to the start on brilliant filly We Can Say It Now with no instructions before the $200,000 Captain Cook Stakes.
From a barrier like No15 in the group one, Allpress is going to
need some sort of plan A to try and beat some talented opposition.
And probably a plan B.
"I've just leave it to her," said co-trainer Murray Baker yesterday when asked about the barrier draw.
"Barrier draws are always important, but they don't seem to matter quite so much at Trentham because the camber tends to throw horses back towards the rail.
"She'll just have to see how it pans out."
What may not help the We Can Say It Now cause is a lack of real speed in the race to break the field up and allow the outside horses to slot into a large pack without covering extra ground.
Spectacular Icon can go forward and lead, but he's unlikely to have to withstand a great deal of pressure in front.
Sir Slick used to lead everything, but it's been noticeable lately that he's been lost for speed in the early stages of his races.
We Can Say It Now has a devastating sprint when she can get cover and her chances will almost certainly be decided in the first half of the race.
As good as she is she won't be able to give too much away in terms of racing luck the way Altered Image won the Coupland's Bakeries Mile at Riccarton.
The record of 3-year-olds in the Captain Cook is not relevant.
This is only the second year the race has been run in December, rather than in October when it was unsuitable for 3-year-olds.
Before that the Captain Cook was run in March.
Obsession will be well fancied after her stunning return to winning form in the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Pukekohe.
She races best in wide open spaces and a mid-field to slightly wider gate on a big track like Trentham is ideal for her.
She Rules had every chance to beat Obsession when she received the perfect trail at Pukekohe, but she still rates some chance here. APN News & Media
