Annabel & Rob Archibald are hoping Saturday is the day for consistent mare Midnight In Tokyo when she lines up in the Group 3 W.J Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
The five-year-old by Kobayashi has raced at stakes or group level on sixteen occasions and netted seven minor placings, five of those since Annabel & Rob Archibald officially entered into a training partnership.
That includes both runs this preparation, which have seen Midnight In Tokyo finish third in a pair of Listed races against her own sex, beaten a long neck in the Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) on June 7.
Despite being in early markets for the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) on the same card, co-trainer Rob Archibald said the plan had always been to keep Midnight In Tokyo to six furlongs.
“We’ve tried her at 1400 (metres) before but she’s got a very short sprint,” Archibald said.
“We’ll stick to the 1200 with her. We’ve done it a few times where we try and step her up and it doesn’t seem to work.
“She runs well, she always tries, but she just feels the pinch a lot. She’s got a very short turn of foot and we just need to ride her as patient as possible.”
The training duo sought out Rachel King for the ride on Saturday, getting in on the minimum of 54kg from barrier two.
“We had a bit of success with her riding Manhood in the Chief De Beers so hopefully she’ll do the job on her,” Archibald said.
Scratched from last weeks’ Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) at Ipswich due to a wide barrier, the stable are hopeful Midnight In Tokyo can atone from a softer draw on Saturday.
“It’s been a frustrating preparation because when you’re targeting these races, you probably only get four or five of races for the prep.
“She’s been in work for a long time, but she’s only had two runs with the prep so far, so it’s been a very frustrating prep, but she’s run well, she’s got a couple more stakes places to her name.
Archibald suggested the Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton on July 15 would be Midnight In Tokyo’s next assignment, with an eye to the Queensland Summer Carnival after that.
“Hopefully the Summer might be her go, if she can still be running at this level where it’s a little bit easier in the summer carnival over the 1,200 metres.
“She just needs to get that stakes win and we’ll be happy.”
Midnight In Tokyo is rated a $17 chance for the W.J Healy Stakes on Saturday.
