Liam Birchley has put Missy Longstocking on notice when the star mare races in Melbourne.
Missy Longstocking will be having only her second start in 13 months in the Group Two Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Birchley decided to dodge Brisbane racing and head straight to Melbourne with Missy Longstocking after she ran third first-up in the Magic Millions Sprint on January 10.
“She has flown to Melbourne before on a Wednesday night and raced well on the Saturday when she won a Group Three race at Caulfield,” he said.
Birchley expects Missy Longstocking to improve sharply on her first-up run when she had no luck.
“She had a jump-out last Tuesday and I would expect her to be forward enough in what looks a very strong race on Saturday,” Birchley said.
But Birchley insists Missy Longstocking needs to race well to remain in Melbourne.
“It is a case of go hard or go home for her. We are looking at the Group One double of the Oakleigh Plate and then the VRC Newmarket,” he said.
“But if she doesn’t show us something on Saturday we would be heading home,” Birchley said.
Damian Browne, who won the recent Karaka Million of Hardline for Birchley, will partner Missy Longstocking.
Meanwhile, Birchley will have a light day at Doomben on Saturday after electing not to accept with promising two-year-old Syn City.
Instead Birchley is hoping his handy galloper Black Jet can have a change of luck in the Brisbane Marriott Plate (1640m).
“Black Jet is one of the horses who is really disadvantaged by the closing of Eagle Farm. He really needs a big track but he would be a good chance of Saturday if there is plenty of genuine pace on from the start,” Birchley said.
