Stepping down from group one racing, Brett Woodhouse is looking for Million Dollar Gem to return to winning ways at Wagga on Tuesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The mare was seventh in the NSW Breeders Challenge final earlier this month and steps back into the Sportsmen’s Club Hotel Pace (2165m) for C2-C3 pacers.
She hasn’t won since March but has only missed the placings three times in 16 starts this season.
Two of those have been in group company at Menangle in her last three starts.
Woodhouse expects she will be much better suited at Wagga despite the poor draw.
“It is very hard from there but I’m sure she will go good,” Woodhouse said.
“You need a lot of luck from the outside of the second line.
“She is a good finisher so hopefully we can get a nice trip and if they go hard up front I’m sure she will be finishing off at the end.”
The daughter of Million Dollar Cam was beaten 10.2 metres by Elle Yeah in the group one final for four-year-old mares on July 1, but was only 2.8 metres off third placed Rocknroll Emma.
Woodhouse has now set his sights on the Breeders Challenge Regional Finals at Bathurst next week.
“We are aiming towards the Bathurst regional finals and I thought she needed a run,” he said.
“I’ll go there and then probably give her a break – she has been up a long while.”
Million Dollar Gem’s first race this season was a win at Canberra in December.
It was her first start for Woodhouse, after the mare was previously trained by his father Rod.
She scored her first win for over a year on that occasion, but has been in brilliant form for the Wagga trainer.
Woodhouse was pleased with her Breeders Challenge run.
“They just go that fast up there but we were pretty happy with her,” he said.
“I thought she went good, we probably pulled the wrong rein at the start and should have just jumped on the first and keeping in the running line cost us in the end but hindsight is a wonderful thing.”
Meanwhile Blake Jones is looking to bring up his 100th win of the season.
After equaling the Australian record by driving six winners at Leeton on Friday night, the Coleambally reinsman has another strong hand.
Two winners are on the quick back up in Girl Of The Glen and Im Feeling Firey while Jones will also drive last-start winner Geldof.