While he is looking to The Monstar to step up at Group Two level at Randwick, trainer Brett Cavanough is also keen to snap a frustrating run in Highway races.
Makfi Lass, a last-start winner on her home track at Scone, will represent the Cavanough stable in Saturday’ 1400m-race for country-trained horses before The Monstar runs in the Missile Stakes.
“I think I’ve had about seven runners in Highway races for five seconds,” Cavanough said.
“Makfi Lass deserves a go at a Highway race.
“She ran second to Rod Northam’s good horse Don’t Doubt Her and then beat her so it’s one-all there.”
The Matt Dunn-trained Care To Think is the $2.70 favourite for the Highway with Makfi Lass a $6.50 chance.
The Murwillumbah-based Dunn holds bragging rights over Canberra’s Matt Dale in the Highway series with a 10-9 lead with the latter saddling Super Star Bob..
Care To Think has been scratched from a race at Doomben on Saturday in favour of the Randwick race.
He will be ridden by Tye Angland but Cavanough believes his booking of Rachel King can help Makfi Lass overcome the favourite.
King has been the in-form apprentice during the Sydney winter.
“Rachel is a real horsewoman,” Cavanough said.
King rode in her native England as an amateur and is indentured to the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable.
Rain on Thursday has put the Randwick track into the heavy range which suits The Monstar and Makfi Lass whose two wins have been on rain-affected tracks.
