Class mare Miss Potential has recovered from a muscle injury she suffered at Hastings and owner-trainer Bill Borrie is confident she will strip in top condition for the $100,000 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham today.
Miss Potential pulled a muscle in her off-side hindquarters in the Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m)
on September 27.
"It was just a case of resting her and massaging the area to dissipate the bruising," Borrie said. "She had about 10 days off [training] but has wonderful recuperative powers.
"She obviously lost a bit of work but we think she has done enough. She was very bright when we galloped her on Tuesday and we are very pleased with her."
In peak form, Miss Potential would be the horse to beat in today's group one feature and she has been favoured by a handy No 4 draw.
She won the group one $100,000 Mudgway Stakes (1400m) at Wanganui in August and then beat all bar Irish Rover in the $120,000 Glenmorgan Stakes (1600m) at Otaki on September 13.
Miss Potential made most of the pace in the Kelt before weakening to finish second last of 14 runners.
Rider Reese Jones said he guessed something was amiss soon after turning for home at Hastings.
"When I asked her to quicken, I knew there was something not quite right," Jones said.
As a result, he did not pressure the mare in the straight.
Jones has not been on the mare since Hastings but called in to see her on Tuesday after riding at the Pukekohe trials.
"She did look very well and they wouldn't be taking her down [to Wellington] if they're were not happy with her," Jones said.
The injury put paid to plans to take Miss Potential to Melbourne for fillies' and mares' races. Borrie said they would not be making any further plans until after today's race.
"We've discounted going to Melbourne and we are back to taking it one race at a time," he said.
But the obvious target if she comes through the race well is the $60,000 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on November 22.
And any suggestions Trentham star Irish Rover could be tiring from a long campaign have been dispelled by owner-trainer Eddie Carson.
Irish Rover has been in work since January and Carson has been looking for signs that the horse has had enough. But, to the contrary, he believes the horse is better than ever.
"He looks really well and I couldn't be happier with him. I think he is the best I've had him," Carson said.
"He's doing very well and looks like a horse at his peak."
But whatever happens in the Captain Cook Stakes, Irish Rover will be going out for a well-deserved break afterwards.
"He's been up a long time and I want to give him a good break. He could go out for three months," Carson said.
Irish Rover has been one of the stars of spring racing. He produced a top effort for fourth in the $100,000 Mudgway Stakes (1400m) at Wanganui before winning the $120,000 Glenmorgan Stakes (1600m) at Otaki.
The noted mudlark then proved he could match the best on top of the ground when finishing third to Distinctly Secret and Hail in the Kelt Capital Stakes.
He was probably unlucky not to run second after being held up in the straight and flashing home once in the clear.
With showers forecast, any easing of the ground will only bolster Irish Rover's chances.
Carson said the race could be Irish Rover's last for some six months and he was unlikely to return to work till January.
- NZPA
Class mare Miss Potential has recovered from a muscle injury she suffered at Hastings and owner-trainer Bill Borrie is confident she will strip in top condition for the $100,000 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham today.
Miss Potential pulled a muscle in her off-side hindquarters in the Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m)
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