Trainer Wendy Roche has opted to delay Nettoyer’s first trip to Queensland as she attempts to bolster the mare’s black-type credentials.
The lightly raced Nettoyer has acquitted herself well since returning from a long-term pelvis injury and now a second career win is the priority.
Roche, who is based at Warwick Farm, also entered Nettoyer in the Group Two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast but believed the four-year-old was better placed in the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill.
Although the track conditions might be short of ideal when racing returns to Rosehill for the first time since April 2, Roche said the handicapper, jockey and the wider open spaces should work in Nettoyer’s favour.
Nettoyer broke her maiden when she won by 10 lengths over 2000m on a heavy track last June at Randwick but Rosehill was just in the soft range on Thursday, with no rain forecast.
“She’s probably better off on a wet track but she’s weighted well and Brenton (Avdulla) is happy to stick with her,” Roche said.
Avdulla was impressed after he guided Nettoyer to second in the Group Three JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick on April 21, when Tally beat her to the line.
He first rode Nettoyer when she started her preparation in February and, like Roche, noticed her gradual improvement since her return from injury.
“She’s very immature in the brain so every start she gets more mature with each run and each experience,” Roche said.
Nettoyer has 53kg compared to the 57kg she would have had in the weight-for-age Hollindale while Roche said Rosehill’s configuration was also a reason to stay home because the tighter Gold Coast lay-out did not favour back markers.
Although Nettoyer only has one win from nine starts, she did face a tough program during the autumn carnival including her first Group One experience in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).
She was unplaced but in the lead-up she ran third to The Pinnacle in the Group Three Epona Stakes (1900m).
“She’s been thrown in the deep end but you have to do that with the racing on offer through The Championships,” Roche said.
Nettoyer was the $2.50 favourite with the TAB on Thursday and should she live up to that billing Roche said she would take her to Doomben for the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2200m) on June 9.
Ecuador, who is backing up from a second in the Group Three Hawkesbury Cup last Saturday is the second favourite for the race he claimed in 2016.
