Robbie Laing is eyeing a couple of stakes races over the Christmas holiday period as he tries to overturn Missrock’s losing streak.
The mare has not been successful since winning the Norman Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley in August last year.
Laing had entered Missrock for a race at Flemington on Saturday but after she trialled at Stony Creek on Tuesday, he decided she needed more work.
The trainer now has Missrock aimed at the Listed Christmas Stakes at Caulfield on Boxing Day or the Group Three Standish Handicap at Flemington on New Year’s Day.
Missrock finished third in her trial, but Laing said the mare had a good blow after the 900m hit-out.
It was her first public appearance since she finished last in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Sandown last month.
“It was the first time she’d been back to Sandown since her debut when she fractured her pelvis and she must have thought ‘this is not for me’,” Laing said.
“I don’t think she tried one inch but she pulled up well.
“I suppose you can’t blame her. She must have a memory.
“We kept her in the stable and sent her down to the beach and put her in one of the paddocks during the day and she was galloping around madly.
“I thought there wasn’t much wrong with her.
“She trialled OK at Stony Creek on Tuesday but had a bit of a blow so I’ll put all of the eggs into either the Christmas Stakes or the Standish.”
Laing has endured a frustrating time with the mare trying to get her a Group One win.
Missrock has finished second in the past two runnings of The Goodwood at Morphettville in Adelaide and has career earnings of more than $1.3 million.
“If you keep putting all your eggs into the carnivals in the spring and the autumn you come away disappointed,” Laing said.
“She’s only a length off the best Group One horses and has run a lot of good races without winning.
“It was almost a waste of time bringing her in for the spring so we thought we’d freshen her a bit and try for another win during the summer.”
