Trainer John Macmillan has consistently held a soft spot for Affaire Vue since the day he first purchased her as a yearling.

Macmillan invested $100,000 in the Dundeel filly at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, holding ambitions for significant race victories.

These aspirations are yet to fully materialise, however, the now five-year-old mare is targeting a winning hat-trick when she contests the Aceit Transport Solutions Handicap (1522m) at Morphettville on Saturday.

Affaire Vue initiated her winning run with a victory at Bordertown on September 11, and followed it up with a win at Gawler 12 days later, marking her fourth win from 19 career starts.

Macmillan suggested that the mare’s talent has always been present, but it is only now beginning to become apparent.

When questioned about whether he had ever thought she would be in a position to win three races in a row, Macmillan responded, ‘I did when I bought her’.

‘But she has been disappointing, mostly from greenness,’ he commented. ‘She has a few minor soundness issues, but I paid $100,000 for her because I liked her. Her trackwork never gave me cause to regret that decision, but her races and her work have not aligned. She has been incredibly frustrating, putting in more effort in trackwork than she has in races.’

Macmillan believes that age and maturity have finally enabled Affaire Vue to demonstrate her capabilities.

‘She’s now doing the right thing,’ Macmillan stated. ‘In her earlier races she would duck from one side to the other and be all over the shop and not know how to put them away. The large Morphettville track will be beneficial for her. The sole disadvantage is the wide barrier, but we have Todd Pannell engaged to hopefully counteract that.’

Macmillan will also be presenting Ilustrious Warrior for the Spring Carnival at Morphettville Handicap (1200m) on Saturday. In a similar vein to his stablemate, Ilustrious Warrior struggles to put the opposition away in his races.

Ilustrious Warrior won at Bordertown and then finished fourth at Gawler in his most recent performance. ‘He’s a bit like his stablemate as he’s shown more in trackwork than in his races,’ Macmillan observed. ‘He’s still a bit green and probably should have won at Gawler, but Todd said he floated when he pulled him out and couldn’t put them away.’

The betting markets are certainly worth exploring for Saturday’s racing, with many keen to see if Affaire Vue can complete her hat-trick at betting sites.