Trainer John Macmillan has always held a soft spot for Affaire Vue since the day he purchased her as a yearling.
Macmillan went to $100,000 for the daughter of Dundeel at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale with dreams of big race success.
Those dreams are yet to materialise, although the now five-year-old is shooting for a winning hat-trick when she steps out in the Aceit Transport Solutions Handicap (1522m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Affaire Vue got the ball rolling with a win at Bordertown on September 11 and followed it up with victory at Gawler 12 days later, her fourth win from 19 starts.
Macmillian said the ability has always been there, but it is only just starting to come to the surface.
Asked if he thought she would ever be in a position to win three on the trot, Macmillan said, ‘I did when I bought her’.
“But she has been disappointing, mostly from greenness,” he said.
“She has a few minor soundness issues, but I paid $100,000 for her because I liked her.
“She had done nothing in her work to make me regret that, but her races and her work haven’t matched each other.
“She’s been very, very frustrating. She’s put in more into trackwork than she has in races.”
Macmillan said age and maturity had finally allowed Affaire Vue to show her ability.
“She’s now doing the right thing,” Macmillan said.
“In her early races she would duck from one side to the other and be all over the shop and not know how to put them away.
“The big track at Morphettville will suit her.
“The only downside is the wide barrier, but we’ve got Todd Pannell on board to hopefully offset that.”
Macmillan will also saddle Ilustrious Warrior on Saturday in the Spring Carnival at Morphettville Handicap (1200m).
And like his stablemate, Ilustrious Warrior does not know how to put the opposition away in his races.
Illustrious Warrior won at Bordertown before running fourth at Gawler at his most recent outing.
“He’s a bit like his stablemate as he’s shown more in trackwork than in his races,” Macmillan said.
“He’s still a bit green and probably should have won at Gawler, but Todd said he floated when he pulled him out and couldn’t put them away.”
