Alfredtown trainer Jake Stockton is hoping stable newcomer Our Classical Art can put her best foot forward at Wagga on Tuesday night.
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The five-year-old is having her third run back after almost a year off the track.
After not having much luck at Young first up, Stockton was thrilled with her second at Leeton last week.
“She was really good,” Stockton said. “I can’t really remember anything breaking 28 seconds for the last quarter at Leeton so I was pretty happy with that.”
He also believes the daughter of Mach Three has taken plenty of benefit from the run.
“She didn’t take a lot of out Young,” he said.
“It didn’t work out when I had to pull her up when the accident happened so she didn’t get the run I wanted out of her there so last week was really first up for around 12 months.
“It was a run that should get her back to peak fitness.”
A wind operation and feet problems meant the Group One performer missed a year of racing.
However, Stockton believes he’s finally on top of the issue.
“It’s taken a long time for her feet to grow back after she broke out in foot abscesses,” he said.
“It was really bad but everything is alright now.
“At this stage she isn’t showing any problems at all and the operation definitely worked.”
Stockton will take the drive himself.
His concession claim allows the C6 mare to get into a race for C2 to C4s, something he thinks should really suit.
His other two chances will be driven by Blake Jones, but thought Our Classical Art was the best.
Jessica Amber is in contention for Wagga Horse of the Year, but has drawn a much harder race for C2-C4s.
While drawn three in the Edel Finance Pace (1755m), Stockton is wary of the strong form race with the mare the only horse who hasn’t won in their last five starts in the race.
“It is tricky with the draw,” he said. “Three is usually alright but the one horse (Red River Glacier) will be a bit hard to cross.
“While in the lower grades Jessica Amber is able to lead I think she is better with a sit and if she can be sitting there handy and they run on a bit she is will go good.”
The mare was beaten 20 metres when third in the same race Our Classical Art was second in last week, but Stockton is still happy with her
He’s looking to use to race as a lead into the NSW Breeders Challenge Regional Final at Bathurst next Sunday after the semi-finals didn’t stand up on Wednesday.
The last of his runner is two-year-old Eva Kelly.
The filly was a winner at Wagga two starts ago before a seventh at Shepparton last time out.
Stockton didn’t think she had much luck after copping a check.
He rated Bruce Harpley’s Western Ron, who is looking to make it three straight, as the one to beat.
“She’s honest but I think Bruce’s one will be too good for us from the draw,” Stockton said. "We are probably going to be (sitting) last.”
