Whether she wins the Queen Of The Turf or not, New Zealand filly Recite has already passed one crucial test in regard to her future.
Trainer John Bary is pleasantly surprised how well the three-year-old has handled the trip to Australia and is already making plans for the spring.
Bary has some unfinished business at Moonee Valley in October and believes Recite is the horse to avenge Jimmy Choux’s 2011 Cox Plate defeat by Pinker Pinker.
But first things first and Recite goes to Group One Queen Of The Turf (1600m) at Randwick off a last-start Group One second to Viadana, one of her rivals in Saturday’s fillies and mares feature.
“She is a lightly framed filly and it’s hard to keep her condition,” Bary said.
“But the way she has handled the trip and the change of scenery has pleased me immensely.
“She is really enjoying herself and literally licked the bin out since she’s been here.
“She has won against older horses before and has won twice over 1600 metres.
“Everyone that rides her says 1600 to 2000 metres is her best distance.”
Plans to bring Recite to Melbourne for last month’s Australian Guineas were aborted after she won a Listed 1600-metre race at Tauherenikau.
“She didn’t have the condition on her to go the Guineas so we just kept her happy and ticking over,” Bary said.
“Her second to Viadana was pleasing because she was coming off a 58-day break.
“She has improved since then and as a three-year-old she gets into Saturday’s race with a light weight against the mares which should help on the wet track.
“She won her first race on a slow track so I think she’ll be OK.”
Recite was unbeaten as a two-year-old with her four wins capped by a Group One victory in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.
Her second Group One came in January against the colts and geldings in the Levin Classic.
Recite’s short-course form includes a win over Bounding who is in Sydney to contest Saturday’s Group Two Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m).
The winner of New Zealand’s premier open sprint, the Railway Stakes, the Ken Kelso-trained Bounding will be ridden by Mark du Plessis.
Bary has opted for local knowledge with Glen Boss to partner Recite and Oaks runner Miss Selby.
