Trainer Kelly Schweida is worried classy mare Miss Cover Girl could have trialled too well in the lead up to the Group Three George Moore Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
Miss Cover Girl will be having her first run since finishing third in the Group Three Nivison Stakes at Randwick on October 17.
Miss Cover Girl
She was subsequently given a freshen-up and Schweida sent her to the trials at Deagon on November 17 when she jumped straight to the lead and stopped the clock at 44.87s, running her final 600m in an exceptional 32.67s.
It is rare for a horse to run under 45 seconds in an 800m trial at Deagon but Miss Cover Girl’s effort was even better because she was wearing heavy shoes rather than race plates.
Schweida was happy with the trial but had one reservation about the way Miss Cover Girl won.
“It is a bit of a worry because I don’t want to teach her to get out and go flat out,” he said.
“I like to have her settle with cover so that she can produce her big finish.”
Miss Cover Girl will press on to the Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) on December 12 after her George Moore run.
“She is then headed to Magic Millions day where there will be three possible races for her,” Schweida said.
“She is eligible for the Magic Millions Cup, the Magic Millions fillies and mares handicap and the Magic Millions QTIS Open.
“We will be running in whichever one looks the weakest. They are all worth $1 million so they are all worth a shot.”
Miss Cover Girl, who has drawn the outside barrier in Saturday’s 12-horse field, will carry 54kg with Group One winner Temple Of Boom topweight with 59.5kg.
That’s A Good Idea was nominated for the race but wasn’t among the acceptors and will instead run in Sydney in the Starlight Stakes.
“I thought she would get something like that with the better horses in the race and she gets her chance on Saturday,” Schweida said.
Meanwhile, Schweida said he was hopeful Golden Falls would make it back to the racetrack after she was injured at Doomben last weekend.
“She has a back problem and a swollen near-hind hock but exactly the extent isn’t clear until we can get her to the vet hospital and run some more tests. That will be next week,” Schweida said.
