Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are looking at third time lucky with Illative as the well-bred filly is finally set for her debut at Flemington.
After two previous aborted preparations, Illative is set to run in the VRC Member Annabel Cobain Sprint (1000m) on Saturday.
Illative has been a standout at the jump-outs at Cranbourne dating back to November last year, but immaturity has held her back.
After two jump-outs in November, Illative was sent for a break and the same occurred in February.
This time around Illative has had two jump-outs, finishing second on June 19 before winning on June 26.
“Every time I have got near (to racing) we’ve had to stop her,” Price said.
“She has always had shins and knees and fetlocks. The owners have been really great, and patient, and she’s had six trials for five wins and is ready to go.
“She’s a good filly and we now must see it on race day, but I’m not putting the big boom on her, or anything like that, I’m just saying she has to do it on race day.
“If she 100 per cent hits out, she can win.”
Price said the final 200m on Saturday will be telling for Illative.
He said she will travel sweetly in the run, but it will be how she responds in the final 200m when the pressure goes on.
“She has a good brain on her, but she has been a little fragile in the leg department,” Price said.
“I think she’s as right as we can have her, and I think if she hits out, she will finish in the money.”
Stablemate Ouroboros will race without blinkers after finishing a first-up third in the headgear in Adelaide first-up on June 24.
“He’s a handy colt, but he charged into the race with the blinkers,” Price said.
“He’s a quiet horse in trackwork and we put the blinkers on to focus him up, and it didn’t work.
“I think he can sit up there somewhere and finish off and I think he’s a top three chance.”
