The weather could determine where two of Ciaron Maher’s star sprinting mares line up.
Bella Nipotina and I Am Me have been entered for the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday along with the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill.
I Am Me is not at home on wet ground, while Bella Nipotina loves a wet track, so the weather in Melbourne and Sydney will determine where the two mares start.
Bella Nipotina has a busy time ahead of her and Maher said she was still carrying a little condition despite having had two runs for the preparation.
The mare finished fourth first-up in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington last month before running firth in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on March 9.
“Bella is still getting there, I think,” Maher said.
“She’s just carrying a little bit more, not much, just a little more condition than in other preps.
“We’ve got the Reid and the T J Smith in store for her, and I think she might have taken a slot in the Quokka over in Perth as well.”
Maher said he favours running I Am Me in The Galaxy first-up, having not started since finishing second in the Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last November.
I Am Me has won three of her four first-up performances while finishing third in her other fresh run.
Maher said the mare had been trialling well, winning her most recent at Randwick on March 7.
“I’m rapt with her. She’s in really good order and her trials have been great,” Maher said.
“The Galaxy is definitely for I Am Me, and I’m not worried about putting them up against one another either.
“I Am Me doesn’t like the wet at all, but Bella loves it, so they could swap around.
“If it presented a Soft 6 up in Sydney, we could send I Am Me down here and switch Bella up there.”
