Despite a less-than-ideal barrier draw, Michael Kent Jnr is confident that Biancelli will demonstrate an improved performance at Caulfield this Saturday.
The once promising filly is set to compete in the $130,000 Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives F&M BM84 Handicap over 1100 metres, searching for her first win in over a year.
The daughter of Cosmic Force is second-up for this race, coming off a third-place finish with 57.5kg over 1050 metres in Adelaide on May 30. This followed a fourth placing in the Listed Black Pearl Stakes (1200m) at Geelong on January 3.
The four-year-old mare will start from the second-widest gate in a field now consisting of 12 runners after Grassmere Diamond was scratched. Kent, however, is encouraged by the increase in distance and the 1kg weight reduction.
The Flying Star Syndications mare was kept race-fit with a jumpout win over 800m at Cranbourne on June 15, where she was eased down.
“She gave way for race fitness first-up, she’s four weeks fitter now and had a tick-over trial between that went well,” Kent, who trains with Mick Price, explained.
“There are a few positives for Saturday. She’s going to present much fitter, I think 1100 is a nice journey for her and she’s going to drop in weight.
“We’re hopeful more than confident, but I think she’ll run a much better race than she did first up.”
The Black Pearl Stakes was Biancelli’s first unplaced run, a stark contrast to her start to her career which saw three consecutive wins. Her last victory was the third of those wins, a benchmark 64 race for three-year-olds on the Caulfield Heath track on May 7 last year.
She has competed in only four starts since then, including two narrow second placings in Saturday grade races at the start of her prior campaign. Kent maintains hope that the mare has more wins ahead of her.
“She’s had a couple of little niggles and we’ve given her time, but I think she’s still a mare on the up,” he commented.
Beau Mertens will partner Biancelli, who is currently facing competition from Delicate Lady and Takeko for the second line of betting behind the clear favourite, Next Stop Iowa.
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