Almost a year since her last win, the Robbie Laing-trained Maquina will be after a career second metropolitan victory at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The seven-year-old mare, who 12 months ago put in a career-best performance when she ran third in the Listed Summoned Stakes (1500m) at Sandown before winning over 1400m at Sandown on a heavy track, comes off a similar formline on Saturday.
Last week at Sandown, Maquina finished fourth to Hi Belle in the Summoned Stakes showing she was going just as well as last year when beaten the same margin – 2-3/4 lengths – going into the Corporate Interiors Australia Hcp (1500m).
The Cranbourne-based Laing said the mare, a three-quarter sister to Australian Cup winner Roman Arch and raced by his wife Rachel, had always shown enormous ability on the track but in 38 starts had managed just two wins, the other in a Pakenham maiden in February 2010.
However with 11 minor placings, including her 2010 Summoned Stakes placing, and $113,394 in prize money, she has a career as a broodmare in front of her.
To help her prospects at the Valley, Laing has engaged apprentice Katelyn Mallyon whose 3kg allowance will bring her in with 52kg, 1kg below the minimum, and the trainer hopes the forecast showers on Saturday eventuate.
The track was rated a good (3) on Friday.
Maquina has firmed from $9 to $6 with TAB Sportsbet which has an open market on the 10-horse field with the Peter Moody-trained pair Limerock and Saint Angers sharing favouritism at $5.
Mickey’s Magic and Archard Street are both at $6.50 with Reverberates at $9.50 and Dashalot and River Bypass both at $10.
AAP TURF
