Brisbane trainer Kelly Schweida’s strike rate in Sydney is impressive and he is looking to keep it that way in the Breeders’ Classic.
Miss Cover Girl returns to the scene of her biggest win when she runs in the 1200m-Group Two race for fillies and mares at Randwick on Saturday with Tommy Berry to ride.
In April last year, she beat Peeping to win the Group Three P J Bell Stakes (1200m) and she also ran a close third in The Nivison in October over the same course and distance.
“If you have horses you think can win then I like to bring them to Sydney and I guess I’ve got a good strike rate,” Schweida said.
“It looks like a strong race with a couple of good mares in it but I was pretty happy with Miss Cover Girl’s last-start third under 59 kilos.
“And if it happens to be wet, we know she can handle it.”
In 2012, the Schweida-trained Better Than Ready bettered Northern Meteor’s time for the Randwick 1200m in the Brian Crowley Stakes and last August, Golden Falls made the trip for a 1400m win at Rosehill.
The Chris Waller-trained Amicus is the Breeders’ Classic topweight on 58kg with the other 11 entries all on the 54kg limit.
Waller has won the past two Breeders’ Classics with Catkins who is not in the field this year.
“Amicus will run,” Waller said.
“She has a pretty good first-up record and she’s fit from two trials and is suited by the set weights and penalties.”
Waller said he would not finalise his plans for the Eskimo Prince (1200m) until Wednesday.
Among his eight entries are Group One winners Japonisme, Press Statement and Vanbrugh.
“We will have a good look at them but I think Press Statement is unlikely,” he said.
“We are looking at the Orr Stakes or the Hobartville with him.”
Waller will also monitor Wonderful Story over the next couple of days to determine whether he makes his debut in the $250,000 Inglis Classic after his barrier trial win on Monday morning.
