Trainer Darren McAuliffe hopes to use tomorrow’s Quayclean Handicap (1500m) as a springboard to blacktype races for talented mare Chollima.
The daughter of Starspangledbanner heads into tomorrow’s event third-up, following a luckless third behind Watch Me Rock last start.
Chollima has been a model of consistency in her 11 starts to date, recording three wins and three placings.
Darren Mcauliffe said the mare looked well placed to score again tomorrow.
“Bad luck has probably had a pretty solid effect on her this time in,” McAuliffe told TABradio.
“The horse itself I’m very happy with.
“From the barrier, it looks like we at least don’t get held up like we have the last couple of runs.
“She probably needs to be given room to allow to flow into it.”
Brad Parnham, who rode Chollima in her only trial prior to this campaign, teams up with the mare on race day for the second time tomorrow and will jump from barrier eight of 10.
The four-year-old is a $3.10 TABtouch favourite for tomorrow’s event, ahead of Be Bardot ($4.80) and Amjaad ($5).
McAuliffe said he hoped to get Chollima to feature races for the fillies and mares during the Pinnacles.
“She will go through the fillies and mares’ series,” he said.
“We hope to knock off a couple before then.
“We will freshen her up into the fillies and mares’ series.
“She’s very effective first-up and fresh.”
The fillies and mares’ series event is the Jungle Mist Classic (1200m) on November 16 and culminates with the Group 3 La Trice Classic on New Year’s Day.
Tomorrow’s TABtouch-Derby Day meeting gets underway at 12.24pm.
