Image: Bradley Photos.
Wayne Wilkes hopes Saturday will be the day his in-form mare Chase My Crown can break through for her first Highway Handicap victory.
The Taree galloper has contested five consecutive metropolitan country-only races since resuming from a spell in April, finishing no further back than fourth.
“We can’t complain as she has had five goes this preparation without winning, but she’s earned $50,000 in prizemoney,” Wilkes said.
“We’d have to win five races in the country to win that kind of prize money, but this way, her benchmark stays the same, and she is still a Class Two horse.
“She hasn’t been far away in any of those races either, and she’s come up against good horses, and I think she deserves a win and just needs a little bit of luck.”
The well-named five-year-old mare is by Hallowed Crown and out of Chase My Shadow and has started 26 times for two wins and ten placings, earning connections over $160,000 in prize money.
Her most recent effort at Randwick suggests she is knocking on the door of a third victory.
Contesting the 1400m Class Two Highway on June 24, Chase My Crown hit the line strongly to finish second, beaten only three-quarters of a length by the Wayne Carroll-trained Salute Again.
“We were very happy with the run,” Wilkes said.
“Andrew (Gibbons) rode her the way we wanted her ridden. Previously, we had her up too close, and she doesn’t seem to finish off, and she needs to sit back a fraction to show off that good turn of foot and strong finish.”
Despite drawing gate 14 on Saturday, Wilkes is confident that apprentice jockey Dylan Gibbons will give his mare every chance from out wide.
“Dylan rides her, and he’ll speak with Andrew, and she gets in three kilos better than last time, and the goal will be to get her to settle midfield,” Wilkes said.
“The only thing against us on Saturday is barrier 14, but we hope that there is going to be something in the race that wants to lead, and from there, Dylan might be able to let her slot in nicely and one off the rail.”
Since she handles the regular trips to Sydney, Chase My Crown will continue to race in town, but Wilkes does have a feature race in my a little closer to home.
“She travels well, which is good, and she’s easy to train and pretty straightforward,” Wilkes said.
“We used to go down the day before for these races, but now with the tunnels and roads, it’s only three and three-quarter hours, and it’s pretty easy travelling for us.
“She’s still eligible for another Highway, and in a couple of weeks, we might go back for the 1500m (on July 22), and after that, if she is going well enough, we might set her for the Coffs Harbour Cup over the mile (on August 4).”
For the moment, Wilkes is focused on Saturday’s Highway at Randwick, and for fields, click here.
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