An impressive performance at yesterday's season-opening Te Teko trials was sufficient proof that class racemare Miss Potential can win her second Mudgway Stakes at the end of the month.
Bill Borrie's 7-year-old gave her 1200m heat rivals a galloping lesson as regular rider Reese Jones guided her to an easy
all-the-way win.
The effort erased any qualms about Miss Potential's last placing on a heavy track at Ellerslie two months ago in her first appearance since being sidelined yet again with leg problems.
"She was only 70 per cent fit but that's a big improvement even since I rode her in a gallop 10 days ago," said Jones. "This will bring her along a heap so she's got to be tough in the Mudgway."
Borrie is keeping an open mind on his pre-Mudgway programme, but admitted he would prefer to head directly to Hastings on August 27 without another public appearance.
"I'm hoping not to have to run her again," he said. "We'll know more when we see how she's come through this but at this stage I'm happy."
Miss Potential won the weight-for-age 1400m event when it was run at Wanganui in 2003. Australian galloper Starcraft was the stumbling block when she finished second in last year's race, as well as in the Stoney Bridge Stakes three weeks later.
Hawkes Bay spring treble candidate Mandela looked good running into second behind the Te Kauwhata mare.
Yesterday's trials also marked the first exposure of new season juveniles, with wins going to Don Garcia and unnamed colts by Kaapstad and first season sire Postponed.
Don Garcia, the $1 million purchase by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis at Karaka last summer, showed that he can live up to the deeds of his year-older stablemate and fellow Danehill colt, Darci Brahma.
