Aviatress will again line up in Melbourne this weekend as she drops back into mares’ company following a solid summer campaign against open sprinters.
The Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained mare is expected to have a short freshen-up after contesting Saturday’s Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Having kicked off her preparation in Adelaide during September, Aviatress has since been stationed at Flemington and has raced four times in Melbourne for the stable.
Her campaign has included a win in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1100m), a third in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m), and most recently a fourth-place finish in the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m).
All three runs were against open-class opposition, while Saturday’s assignment sees her return to mares’ grade and carry less weight.
Jolly said the stable felt the mare could have performed a touch better at Flemington but took encouragement from the form since.
“Last start we were a little disappointed with the run she had and was a bit soft late,” Jolly said.
“But she ran fourth, not that far away, and if you look at Hedged, he looked to go pretty ordinary and he came out and won that race at Pakenham the other day, so that makes you feel a bit better about the run.”
The trainer is also hopeful for a touch of rain to improve conditions, with Aviatress having shown her best on tracks with some give.
She scored on a Soft 6 surface three runs ago, while her latest outing was conducted on a firm Good 3.
“We’ve been getting Good 3’s at the moment and the track was pretty firm at Flemington the other day,” Jolly said.
“We just feel she’s a bit better if there’s a bit of sting out rather than the firm track she copped the other day.
“She’s stayed in our Flemington stable the whole way through as otherwise we would have been going backwards and forwards a bit.
“It makes it easier and the horses can settle in there.
“Flemington has certainly been an advantage for the better horses that we’ve got.”
Harry Coffey will partner Aviatress for the first time on Saturday, replacing the injured Mark Zahra, while Craig Williams has been booked to ride Damask Rose.
The post Mares’ company to suit Aviatress first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
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