Free from the problems which plagued her during the spring, Appearance is fit and ready to make an impact this campaign starting with the Expressway Stakes.
The triple Group One winner will take on a strong field in the Group Two sprint at Randwick on Saturday but trainer Guy Walter is counting on her fitness and first-up record to come to the fore.
Walter and the Darley team pulled the pin on her spring after two starts.
The mare has a history of tying up, a muscle problem which results in pain and stiffness, but Appearance has shown no signs of the condition this time around.
“She is problem free which is the main thing,” Walter said.
“She is well in herself and very forward. She has a good first-up record so I’m very happy going to the Expressway.”
Appearance has won twice and been placed twice from five first-up effort with her ninth behind Driefontein in the Sheraco Stakes in September the other.
A defence of her Coolmore Classic title will be a prime target for Appearance during the autumn but not for her stablemate Streama.
Also a triple Group One winner, Streama is likely to contest the Doncaster Mile before a decision is made whether she runs in the Queen Of The Turf or steps up to 2000m in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Walter said he and the mare’s owners had yet to decide where Streama would begin her campaign.
The options are the Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 15 or the Group Two Breeders Classic (1200m) for mares at Rosehill on the same day.
The Lightning would be uncharted territory for Streama who has never raced at a distance shorter than 1100m and has never raced on the straight course.
Among Appearance’s opposition will be Boban and Sizzling from the Chris Waller stable.
The Expressway (1200m) will be Sizzling’s first start for his new trainer and his first start since his unlucky seventh, beaten less than two lengths, in the Epsom Handicap won by Boban in a tight finish from Streama.
