Coming off down the track efforts in top company, Scott Spackman believes Didnt Even Kiss Me is in perfect order ahead of the SDRA Country Championships Qualifier (1400m) at Albury on Sunday.
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Didnt Even Kiss Me won three straight before a quick freshen up and comes into the feature race off two tough assignments at Caulfield and Canberra.
The Wagga trainer has always had this race at the front of his mind and couldn’t be happier with the grey mare.
“She is perfect and I can’t ask for any better,” Spackman said.
“She is rock hard fit now.
“I can’t do no more. It is just a matter of her now stepping up.”
Didnt Even Kiss Me resumed with a last place in the Group Two Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield on February 25 before an eighth in the Listed Canberra Guineas earlier this month.
Considering the big step up in class, Spackman was pleased with both of her efforts.
“The first one she probably wasn’t ready, we had a shy at the stumps, but she wasn't disgraced,” he said.
“The next one was probably a little bit better in the Listed race at Canberra.
“I’d like to know how a couple of these horses would measure up in that company.”
The last five starts, including wins two at Wagga and one at Cootamundra, have come over the 1400 metres.
Didnt Even Kiss Me is a three-year-old filly taking on the older horses, however it is far from a concern for Spackman.
In fact he thinks it seems to suit better.
“Everytime she has met the older horses she has beat them, but when she goes against her own age group she gets beat,” Spackman said.
“It might be the grade I’m putting her against too, but it is funny how it works.”
Come Sunday, Spackman will have lined up horses of the fairer sex in each of the three seasons the race has been run.
He finished second in the inaugural qualifier with Yet Tobe Convinced, finishing runner-up to Brett Cavanough’s Loved Up, before having no luck last season with Adequacy injured two tendons in the run.
Spackman rates Challenge Accepted and Man Of Peace as the two big dangers.
However he doesn’t believe this field will be as strong as previous editions of the race.
“I think the first one was probably the strongest,” Spackman said.
“Challenge Accepted is a very good horse on his day, Levee Bank is flying and Man Of Peace is obviously in there now and is a big chance.
“His run in the National Sprint was pretty good and it was a pretty good field at Canberra."
Final acceptances and the barrier draw for the $150,000 feature is on Thursday.
Spackman is hoping to draw inside the first six.
Simon Miller has been engaged to take the ride.
Spackman is hoping their strong connection will pay dividends.
“He’s won three from three on her and is back for Sunday,” he said.