Trainer Ciaron Maher was pleased with the workout of eight-year-old mare Etah James and said she was ready to run a big race in the Sandown Cup.
“She’s a dour two-miler ready to peak. She’s very honest,” Maher said.
Etah James was unplaced in the Melbourne Cup, which was only her third run back from a spell.
She will be reunited with Glen Boss who rode her to win the Sydney Cup.
Boss partnered her at Sandown on Tuesday and said she felt similar to when he rode her in trackwork in the lead up to the Randwick staying feature.
“She was third up (in the Melbourne Cup), she’s a real staying type and with the brutal pace there was nowhere to hide if you lacked any sort of conditioning,” Boss said.
“The distance, not a problem. She’s a very easy mare to ride and she can switch off and get into a rhythm.
“She’ll run a very forward race.”
There are 10 races at Sandown on Saturday and all carry Group or Listed status.