Mi Jubilee, the fastest filly in the land, is primed and ready for her assault on the Gr 2 $100,000 Robin, Duke of Bedford Matamata Breeders' Stakes at Matamata tomorrow.
The Howbaddouwantit-Mi Steel juvenile, owned by Wanganui vegetable magnate Gordon Lambert and trained by Stephen Crutchley, has already broken 45 seconds for 800m twice this season and last start broke 1.09 over 1200m when second behind the country's top two-year-old colt, Wahid.
Mi Jubilee goes into the 1200m Matamata feature in a fresh state having not raced since January 6, but that is not expected to pose problems for the camp.
This season Crutchley has spaced her races with at least three or four weeks between runs, but that is through circumstance rather than design.
Crutchley revealed that she was below peak fitness when she chased Wahid home in the Gr 2 Ford Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) at Trentham last month.
"In between that race and her previous start she suffered some injuries when a galloping mate struck her on the leg," Crutchley said yesterday.
"It meant I wasn't able to give her as much fast work as I would have liked and she went into the race underdone. I've got her back to where I want her now.
"I haven't purposely spaced her races ? circumstance has dictated her runs. She's the sort of filly you could back up no worries and, in fact, I need to gallop her a bit at home just to keep on top of her she's that good a doer. But racing in a fresh state hasn't seemed to worry her and I'm confident of a very smart run at Matamata," Crutchley said.
Mi Jubilee drew eight of 15, but her electric pace should allow regular rider David Walker to secure an on-the-pace position, if not in front, from barrier rise tomorrow.
Her work at Wanganui on Tuesday had tongues wagging and her opening $9 rating on TAB Fixed Odds yesterday was mouth-watering. The wise were quick off the mark, however, and she was down to $6.50 before noon.
The Breeders' Stakes is for fillies only and her form now means so much more with Wahid going on to win the $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Classique (1200m) at Te Rapa on January 5.
Mi Jubilee primed and ready
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