The likelihood of a wet track presents a challenge for at least one of Enver Jusufovic’s two Caulfield runners on Saturday.
Caulfield is set to be rated slow for its final meeting of the season, giving Jusufovic cause for concern about the chances of Just Too Hard in the Champagne Pommery Masters Hcp (1200m).
The filly was unplaced in slow ground last start while his other runner in the same race, debutante Anare, is unknown in the wet.
The probability of a rain-affected surface at Morphettville prompted Jusufovic to scrap plans to chase black type with Just Too Hard in the Listed Lightning Stakes but the Cranbourne trainer will run her at Caulfield.
“I would have liked to get some black type with her but there’s no point going to Adelaide if they don’t handle it,” Jusufovic said.
“Caulfield is not ideal either but I think the track will be slightly better than at Morphettville.”
Anare is a half-sister to the 2004 Group One Oakleigh Plate winner Reactive but immaturity and a foot issue kept her from racing until late in her three-year-old season.
“It’s been a maturity thing with her and last preparation a big hole like an abscess blew out her foot and we had to tip her out for four months,” Jusufovic said.
“The time out hasn’t hurt her. She’s a lovely big filly and she’s thrived on this preparation.”
Anare finished second in a trial on the Cranbourne Synthetic track on July 21 but Jusufovic said the outing gave him little indication whether the Reaan filly would handle soft going.
“I haven’t been able to get a gauge on her because I haven’t been able to trial her on grass because it’s been too wet,” Jusufovic said.
“I’m not really sure how she’d go.”
Dwayne Dunn will partner Anare while Glen Boss has the ride on Just Too Hard.
