Trainer Luke Price maintains confidence in Accoy qualifying for the Provincial Championships final, brushing aside her disappointing first-up run.
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Price is preparing to head to Newcastle on Saturday for the first heat of the series, declaring the four-year-old was doing her best work late despite finishing eighth when returning at Canterbury over 1250m last week.
"She was good that last 100 and (jockey) Jason (Collett) gave us a good report afterwards, even though she wasn't in the race," he said.
"If anything it's just added a bit of fitness for the qualifier and we've been targeting it with her for a while."
Stablemate Auburn Boy pushes out to 2100m for the first time on Wednesday, after being around the mark this campaign.
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"We're hopeful he'll enjoy the extra trip and if he's going to get it anywhere it will be at Gosford," Price said.
Price was uncertain whether four-year-old mare Tochi would press on after three wins to start the year.
"I'll give her another week or so, she'll let me know if she needs a spell," Price said.
Alligator has bite for rematch
A good recovery following a gallop at Flemington in preparation for the Australian Guineas is what trainer David Vandyke has been looking for from stable star Alligator Blood.
The gallop on Tuesday showed Vandyke Alligator Blood had recovered from his fighting win over Catalyst in the CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 15.
Saturday's Group 1 race over 1600m for three-year-olds heralds the return bout of the two, along with third placegetter Chenier, Soul Patch and Dalasan.
"I'm happy with how he's come through the CS Hayes now," Vandyke said.
Alligator Blood has been in work since last May while competing in jump-outs, trials or races since July and it has been a juggling act for Vandyke to keep the gelding at his peak.
While Alligator Blood was jaded after the Flemington race, Vandyke said he did not find it necessary to move the gelding to aid his recovery.
"We stayed at Flemington to get over it and he's happy in his stable there," Vandyke said.
"He raced there last time and he's racing there on Saturday, so we didn't see the point in taking him anywhere else."
Vandyke sees Saturday's race as a different contest to the CS Hayes Stakes.
He said keeping the Alligator Blood's head in a good space was essential.
"I'm happy with the shape he's in," Vandyke said.
"Some of those horses he ran against are headed to the Guineas, they're on the improve and running really well. Alabama Express won a Group One last start, Catalyst really put it to us and will be hard to beat and Chenier ran great off a light career and there's the Perth horse Superstorm.
"It's a great field without Alligator Blood in it, but with him in it, it's very exciting."
What Vandyke is now hoping for is a good draw for Alligator Blood to run out a strong 1600m with his only defeat in 10 starts coming in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October when Super Seth hit the line hard.
"With the step out to 1600 metres at Flemington I'd love him to draw well so he can get an economical run in the middle stages," Vandyke said.
Mile mission
Having captured the Cox Plate with Lys Gracieux, Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi is eyeing off Australia's richest 1600m-handicap, the Doncaster Mile, with Mozu Ascot.
The Yahagi-trained horse won Sunday's Grade 1 February Stakes at Tokyo to confirm plans to bring him to Sydney for the $3 million Doncaster on April 4.
"I will take him to Australia to contest the Doncaster Mile, and the main target this year would be the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile," Yahagi said. AAP
Express has Bulli golden touch
Pindari Express could be aimed at chasing the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg after claiming a second straight Bulli Gold Cup on Saturday.
Producing another fast finish, Pindari Express overwhelmed Turbo Thomas to by more than two lengths, in 26.07, faster than the time he won last year's Group 2 event.
After making it to the final of the Million Dollar Chase last year, trainer Tracey Scruse is now well positioned to take on the major NSW races again.
"I'm ecstatic. I can't believe it. It's fantastic," Scruse told GRNSW. "It does mean a lot. He's coming toward the end of his racing career. He's four in May. To beat these young dogs, and to go back to back, it's unreal."
The win improved his Bulli record to 14 starts 10 wins and three seconds and a third, as well as taking his career earnings to $138,470, with 18 wins from 32 starts.
"He is special," Scruse said.
"This is his track. He has plenty of room to wind up and run them down."
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Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
