Trainer Robbie Griffiths concedes there is not a lot in favour of running I Only Wish at Caulfield.
I Only Wish will be chasing a third straight win when she lines up in the GMH Fire & Safety Australia Handicap (1600m) on Saturday where the filly tackles the ‘boys’ from barrier 13.
But Griffiths has an in-form filly and believes now is the right time to attempt a city victory.
“She’s got a tough task on Saturday as she’s taking on the boys which will be difficult for her, and she’s drawn horrible in 13,” Griffiths said.
“But we think we’ll take on the challenge and the only reason we will chicken out is because of the barrier, but there is no better time to throw her in the deep end than after winning her last two.
“She’s trained well, she’s going well, but it’s a tougher task because of the draw and the open gender, but she deserves a shot.”
I Only Wish has been somewhat of a late bloomer.
It took the filly to start number 10 to register her maiden win, when scoring at Pakenham on April 10, which was followed by another Pakenham victory over 1600m on April 24.
Griffiths said I Only Wish’s dam, Gail, was also a late developer, not making it to the track until late in her three-year-old season, before cracking it for a maiden win just before turning four.
“This filly is developing a bit later in life, like her mum Gail,” Griffiths said.
“She’s also by Puissance De Lune and when he came out to be trained by Darren Weir, he was a good horse, but that was as a five and six-year-old, not as a three-year-old.
“Her mum Gail, she only won once at three, but she was quite successful at four and I think this mare will be a lot better at four.
“We’ll give her a chance on Saturday and see where she measures up.
“Hopefully she’ll give a good sight.”
