Two Blue’s front-running pattern would frustrate many trainers, but not Kristen Buchanan.
The seven-year-old natural leader has been pipped at the post in four of her past five starts, all in stakes races.
The mare heads into Saturday’s Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill as a $21 chance with Catkins the $1.55 favourite.
But the Wyong-based Buchanan says she won’t change her mare’s enthusiastic style.
“She boxes above her weight significantly and works so hard, but being that front-runner she’s always vulnerable to that late ambush,” Buchanan said.
“We tried to ride her prettier and it’s less successful than what she does now.
“I feel more amazed than frustrated that she can do what she can do. She’s so fierce.”
The Group Two race will be one of the hardest of Two Blue’s career as she takes on the combined might of 2014 winner Arabian Gold and Catkins.
Buchanan believes her best hope is for the weather to deteriorate.
“For my mare, she loves the wet and probably goes better on a heavy track than on a dry one, so it’s pretty crucial,” she said.
“(But) in my eyes Catkins has a mortgage on the race. She alone is an absolute legend and it’s a strong field behind her as well.
“It’s just a real honour to be racing against horses of this calibre.”
The Golden Pendant is set to be Two Blue’s final race until the winter, with a long spell on the cards.
Buchanan nevertheless expects her mare to perform.
“It’s her grand finale,” she said.
“Win, lose or draw, she’ll go to the paddock after this.
“She’s had an excellent preparation and realistically, if she runs in the top four, she’ll have done very well.”
