Group One winner Mirjulisa Lass is set to be given her first weight-for-age assignment at Randwick on Saturday with trainer Greg Hickman favouring the Chelmsford Stakes over the Tramway Handicap.
Mirjulisa Lass is nominated for both the weight-for-age Group Two Chelmsford (1600m) and the Group Three Tramway Handicap (1400m) and Hickman believes the extra distance second-up is the better option for the staying mare.
The four-year-old, who won the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in the autumn, is pleasing Hickman but the trainer hopes the Sydney tracks dry out quickly for his charge to have her best chance.
“They are two pretty hot races but I’m looking at this stage at going to the Chelmsford,” Hickman said.
“She’s already had a run over 1300 metres (in the Toy Show) and she’s heading to races over a bit more ground.
“The weather might play a bit of a part, if we get some rain (in the next 24 hours) it might change my mind and go back to the 1400 metres.
“I just think she just about needs to run over the mile.”
Tommy Berry has been booked for the Chelmsford Stakes ride.
The daughter of Danasinga has never won on anything worse than a dead track and resumed in the Listed Toy Show Quality (1300m) on August 20 and finished 10th in the field of 11 on a heavy (9) at Warwick Farm.
“I’m very happy with her at home, it’s just a shame she doesn’t handle wet tracks,” Hickman said.
“I would have loved to have seen her finish off a bit better first-up but Corey (Brown) was happy enough with her and she needs two things – she must be ridden quietly and she needs a dry track.”
Hickman has the Group One George Main Stakes (1600m) as a likely next target after the Chelmsford but the Warwick Farm-based trainer warned he may have to look to head to Melbourne early if Sydney gets rain in the coming weeks.
Mirjulisa Lass is nominated for a number of feature races including the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate.
Hickman is keeping his options open and will let the mare tell him where to head as he still believes Mirjulisa Lass will be a better horse next preparation and in 12 months’ time.
“If she’s good enough to be there, we’ll go,” he said.
Mirjulisa Lass is one of six Group One winners among the 20 Chelmsford Stakes nominations, which include Doncaster winner Sacred Choice and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner My Kingdom Of Fife.
AAP TURF
