Venus Serena has since emerged as our best mare with the retirement of Adore Me but hadn't raced since looking all at sea when sixth off a handicap in what turned out to be a terribly unsuitable race at Forbury Park on April 2.
Before that she easily beat Jewels second favourite Willow in the Breeders Stakes at Addington, suggesting the best version of her is good enough to win the Jewels again.
Driver John Dunn says the horse he had in front of him yesterday felt like the real-deal Venus Serena.
"A couple of times this season she has been disappointing to be honest," admits Dunn.
"She has even trialled poorly and when she struggles she doesn't handle the last bend.
"But she felt right back to it today. She cornered great, hit the line hard and she will improve a lot with that.
"So that is exactly what she needed."
Friday's barrier draw will be crucial for Venus Serena but perhaps even more for punters chasing a price on her, because if she draws to use her gate speed she could start odds-on.
Whereas if she draws outside Willow and/or Lancewood Lizzie, she could well get out in the markets, even though last year's Jewels win proves she can do it tough and still win.
She was $2.20 with the New Zealand TAB last night.
Venus Serena wasn't the only Jewels winner to shine at the trials yesterday, with 3-year-old trotter Monbet looking ready for his defence when beating the maiden pacers over 2400m mobile in 3:5.1, the last 400m in 27.1, slick for a young trotter.
He has been dogged by problems and tricky draws this campaign which have seen him play second fiddle to the bullet-proof Speeding Spur but for sheer speed Monbet is at least as potent as his arch rival.
His record and yesterday's trial suggest if he draws well on Friday, when the fields are expected out mid-afternoon, he could even shorten into close to favouritism.
Venus Serena will not be the only two-time Jewels winner chasing a historic treble in 10 days, but she has the first chance to become the first horse to do it as her race is earlier than Sky Major's.
The last-start Messenger winner is the $1.90 for the 4-year-old male pace which has a virtual dress rehearsal at Addington on Friday night.
Sky Major takes on Jewels second favourite Dalton Bromac, dual Derby winner Tiger Tara and Messini in a free-for-all over 1950m, in which he has drawn the outside of the front line.
One Jewels favourite who will dodge that race is Have Faith In Me, whose trainer Mark Purdon has elected to take him to the Ashburton workouts on Saturday. "He is really well but I think a trial is the better option for him," says Purdon.
