Trainer Charlotte Littlefield is hopeful the rain forecast to fall at Caulfield does not eventuate ahead of the return run of She’s Bulletproof.
The mare is scheduled to kick-off her campaign in the Group 3 Heath 1100 (1100m) on Saturday.
But Littlefield warned if the track rating was much worse than a Soft 5, She’s Bulletproof would remain at home and likely return in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday week.
“A soft five will be fine but beyond that we know she is not at her best and we do not want to start off the campaign in a negative way,” Littlefield said.
“We want to build her confidence, so we will just wait and see and if the weather is good the following week, we’ll head to the Chautauqua Stakes.”
The Melbourne Bureau of Meteorology said showers had been forecast at Caulfield on Thursday with 5-to-7mm of rain on Friday and showers clearing on Saturday.
She’s Bulletproof has not raced since finishing fifth in the Melbourne’s final Group 1 race of last season, the William Reid Stakes, when finishing fifth behind Schwarz.
That followed her second-place finish in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate over Saturday’s course and distance in February.
Littlefield said She’s Bulletproof was 2kg of her winning race weight ahead of her return.
“It was always hard to keep her svelte and in top fitness as she was always a good doing mare last time in,” Littlefield said.
“But I think we’ve nailed it this time around and we’ve got her where she needs to be first-up.
“She has not been the cleanest of breathers in previous preps, but her recovery on Tuesday was excellent, and her breathing was exceptional.
“The proof will be in the pudding on Saturday as to what level she can go to this prep. Last prep she started off in a benchmark 64 and got beaten and then ended up placing in a Group 1.”
The Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 26 is where Littlefield would like to head second-up with She’s Bulletproof.
And as the mare has got older, Littlefield feels She’s Bulletproof may stretch out in trip which may give the mare more options at Group 1 level.
“She has a bit more length about her, is a bit more athletic and her breathing is better than last prep,” Littlefield said.
“It might be a way we could that head with her. It might give us more options.”
