Trainer Grahame Begg and the connections of She’s A Hustler are again looking forward to seeing the mare back up to a staying trip.
She’s A Hustler will run for the second time at 2400m when she contests the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday.
The mare’s only previous appearance at 2400m was when winning the Zipping Classic on a soft track at Caulfield last November when she downed Light Infantry Man under weight-for-age conditions.
That defeat of Light Infantry Man also happened to be the last victory of She’s A Hustler.
Begg has been happy with how She’s A Hustler has performed since, although wet tracks and high-pressure races have made it tough for the mare on a number of occasions.
The 2400m of the Caulfield Cup can be a high-pressure race, but it is run under handicap conditions as against the weight-for-age or set-weights and penalties races She’s A Hustler has been contesting.
After closing off nicely when fifth to Sheza Alibi in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on September 12, She’s A Hustler was a fading seventh to Cosmic Crusader in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on October 3.
“It was too wet last time, and she can’t cope with the high-pressure races,” Begg said.
“She needs a dry track and to be able to come up for air at some time in the run. She needs to be able to come back and then travel through her gears.
“Who would have thought Light Infantry Man would go out the way he did, and it was the same when she was chasing Pride Of Jenni in Brisbane, she didn’t get that chance to come up for air and she’s not as effective.
“Her previous run was excellent and all her runs on good tracks have been good.
“Low-range soft is OK, but we should get nice ground for her and we’re looking forward to seeing her on Saturday.”
She’s A Hustler came up with barrier six in the barrier draw on Tuesday and will start from gate five if the emergencies do not gain a start.
Michael Dee takes over on Saturday.
“She will be ridden quiet,” Begg said.
“Hopefully she will be midfield, doing no work, not being bustled to hold a position and just let her travel.”
