Trainer Jamie Gameson isn't hitting the panic button with emerging filly Here We Go Again even though she has been forced out of tonight's Alexandra Park meeting.
The 3-year-old would have been a warm favourite in the night's feature, the $18,000 Sires' Stakes heat but soreness issues this week haveseen her scratched. "They are nothing serious but she is too good to risk so I wanted to look after her," said Gameson.
"And you can't have them lining up less than 100 per cent when they are going to have the support she would have had."
The scratching comes just over a week before Here We Go Again contests the richest race of her career so far, the Sires' Stakes Final at Alexandra Park on December 31.
She shot to possible favouritism for that group one when she overcame a hard run to win the Ladyship Stakes last start, beating a trio of Mark Purdon-trained hotshots.
"I am sure we can have her back to her best for that but this week is a bit inconvenient," said Gameson.
Her withdrawal leaves Carpenters Daughter, who was checked late in an incident started by Here We Go Again last start, as favourite tonight from barrier one.
The Purdon pair of Dancing Diamonds and O Baby are both clearly good enough to win but have each produced mysterious failures in recent starts. Still, on class alone they are obvious dangers. Earlier on the night, Gameson thinks he can gain some compensation for his stable star's scratching with Dream Defence in the second leg of the $50,000 guaranteed Pick6.
The 3-year-old drops back from premier quality races into something much easier, and at $6150, a lot less lucrative. But because of the 3-year-old handicapping concessions it still makes sense for him to win this sort of race and Gameson says if he does he could head home without staying for the premier New Year's Eve meeting.
"This race is a lot easier and he has thrived on the trip so I think he is a good chance."
