A shortened spring campaign could reap rewards for triple Group One winner Appearance who is advanced in her preparations for the Sydney carnival.
The Guy Walter-trained mare runs in a barrier trial at Hawkesbury on Monday in a 760m heat which also features multiple Group One placegetter Rain Affair from the Joe Pride stable.
Walter and owners Darley decided not to press on to a defence of the Myer Classic when Appearance didn’t run up to her usual standard in two runs.
While she was in the paddock her stablemate Streama won the Group One George Main Stakes and ran second in the Epsom Handicap.
Another stablemate, Toydini, was third in the Epsom and won the Group Two Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley while Walter’s other major autumn hope Zanbagh ran a game second in the VRC Oaks.
“They are all back at Warwick Farm after doing some early work at Goulburn,” Walter said.
“Appearance is more forward than the others and I’m looking at possibly starting her in the Expressway Stakes.
“She is problem free and working well so we will see how she trials.”
The Group Two Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 8 is also the planned return for Rain Affair, winner of the race two years ago.
Appearance, Streama and Toydini could all find themselves in the Doncaster Mile, the race in which Walter famously trained the trifecta in 2005 with Patezza, Court’s In Session and Danni Martine.
In Appearance’s absence from the Myer Classic, the Chris Waller-trained Red Tracer stepped up to claim the Group One mare’s race after running close seconds to her rival in the Coolmore Classic and Queen Of The Turf in the autumn.
Red Tracer is scheduled to trial over 900 metres at Rosehill on Tuesday.
