Strapper Glenn Murphy and trainer Mick Tubman with Miss Cheeky Charli. Picture: ROBERT PEET
HORSE RACING
The last time larrikin trainer Mick Tubman took a two-year-old filly to town he was racing for a slice of the $3.5 million on offer in the Golden Slipper, the world's richest two-year-old race.
The stakes might not be as high this time around with enigmatic juvenile Miss Cheeky Charli, written off by bookmakers ahead of the Listed Widden Stakes (1100 metres), but Tubman can see similarities to his fairytale filly Chance Bye.
"She was the same - brilliant on top of the ground and did nothing in the wet," Tubman joked after Miss Cheeky Charli flopped on debut in the heavy going at Kembla.
"Her first start, just forget about it. I was devastated and she just couldn't handle the going. I was taking a punt.
"All I'm worrying about is the weather," he said.
"She's real good on a good track and real bad on a bad track."
Miss Cheeky Charli was last night being shopped at $101 with bookmakers for the Widden Stakes, another important piece to the Golden Slipper jigsaw. Rosehill was rated a dead (5).
The Strategic filly, out of Danzero mare Tranzero, impressed during a five-length barrier trial romp last month, prompting Tubman to pencil in the Widden Stakes as an ideal starting point.
Miss Cheeky Charli even impressed hoop Kathy O'Hara, Chance Bye's regular pilot, during an exhibition gallop.
Tubman said O'Hara remained buoyant about Miss Cheeky Charli's prospects and will slide forward from the outside gate today.
"I haven't spoken to her [O'Hara] since, but working between races she had a beautiful long stride for a two-year-old and went as straight as die, but then went like a drunken sailor at her first start," he said.
"From barrier 14 you've got to go forward. There's no point in going backwards in a 1100-metre race."
