Trainer Liam Birchley is pinning his hopes on Zero Rock being vulnerable in her comeback at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Birchley’s consistent four-year-old Liesele will take on the Kelso Wood-trained Zero Rock in the Listed Travel Associates Handicap (1200m) in which both mares fared well with barriers.
Liesele has drawn gate one while Zero Rock will jump from three.
Birchley has seen Zero Rock work several times in recent weeks and is suitably impressed with the six-year-old’s condition.
Zero Rock is on the comeback trail after finishing sixth to Yosei in the Group One Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.
“She (Zero Rock) looks pretty good to me but I presume she’s going to improve a lot further after this run,” Birchley said.
“If we are to beat her, now is probably the best time to strike.”
However, Birchley concedes Liesele’s task will be difficult with Zero Rock to carry just 57.5kg under the set weights and penalties.
“It’s a very competitive field and Zero Rock does look to be thrown in at the weights,” he said.
Five NSW horses were entered for the Brisbane feature but only the Chris Waller-trained Dystopia was among the acceptors.
But she is more likely to run at Rosehill with Waller also wary of Zero Rock.
“I’m not sure. It’s 50-50 at the moment but I’m starting to think it’s doubtful she’ll go up there,” Waller said.
“I don’t want to send her up just to run second or third to Zero Rock who is well weighted.
“Her form is excellent but she might be better off staying home.”
Birchley was glad trainer Les Kelly decided not to accept with exciting filly Alltherightmoves along with the other potential interstate rivals including the Kris Lees-trained Cheap Thrills, Gerald Ryan’s promising Mrs Onassis and the Gosford mare My Cookie Monster.
Liesele has been runner-up at her past three appearances.
She was beaten in a tight finish by Skating On Ice in a 1200m Class Six at Doomben on November 5 then beaten less than two lengths by Alltherightmoves over 1020m at Doomben a fortnight later.
“Alltherightmoves is very promising but I was pleased with Liesele’s run behind her,” Birchley said.
“She had the outside alley and was dropping back in distance which is very hard.
“It’s doubly hard to win over 1000 metres at Doomben from a wide barrier.
“I thought she did a good job on a track which suited front runners.”
Birchley couldn’t fault Liesele’s placing behind Skating On Ice who subsequently scored easily at Eagle Farm last week.
AAP TURF
