She has a liking for the distance and has proven her credentials but Ichihara will still face a tough test against some promising gallopers at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Allan Denham-trained three-year-old has paid the price for her consistency and will carry top weight of 59kg in the Listed Fireball Quality which is bursting with up-and-coming gallopers.
Among her rivals will be undefeated Rick Worthington-trained filly Golden Sunshine, smart Victorian Lampedusa for Peter Moody and the John O’Shea pair of Knight Exemplar and Charge Account.
They are progressive three-year-olds and Ichihara will be conceding at least 4.5kg to them all.
But while many of her rivals are resuming or being tested in stakes company for the first time, Ichihara has two runs under her belt and is proven at black-type level.
She beat all but Bennetta at her most recent outing over 1200m and jockey Hugh Bowman, who partnered her in that race, expects that form to stack up.
He also points to the 1100-metre journey of the Fireball as another positive.
“That’s her trip. She’s back in distance from the 1200 the other day and she was beaten by a very good one in Bennetta,” Bowman said.
“Bennetta can probably lay claim to being in the top five three-year-old fillies in the country.
“This filly isn’t a Group One horse but she is a genuine black-type horse and this is her distance.”
Ichihara is on the third line of betting at $6.50 with Charge Account the $3.20 favourite in an open race.
