Trainer Garry Frazer believes his consistent mare Campania deserves a win in Listed company.
The Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury on Thursday at her home track will be the 10th start of the mare’s preparation which kicked off way back in February.
“She’s very tough, very honest and puts in all the time,” Frazer said.
“She spends all day in the paddock which is why she’s stayed in work so long and raced so consistently.
“Because of the luxury we have at the stables here of the good paddocks, we put them out all day and it’s like they’re spelling.”
After an early last-to-first win at Rosehill as a three-year-old Frazer considered Campania a chance at Group One level, but she didn’t develop the strength to get the longer trip.
“She gave me the impression she might have been an Oaks filly after she won a Saturday race at Rosehill when she came from last on the corner to win running away,” he said.
Now Campania is getting the longer trips – placing third behind the highly-rated Astronomos over the Randwick 2000m before winning over 1900m at Rosehill.
For the Rowley she will be back in trip and over 1600m at Hawkesbury, the same track and trip she failed over in July when a distant last in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup, but Frazer thinks she is a winning chance in Thursday’s feature.
“Her form is excellent, she’s been very consistent,” Frazer said.
One-time 2014 Melbourne Cup favourite The Offer will be lumped with 61kgs as he attempts to get his first win since last year’s Sydney Cup.
The seven-year-old gelding has had only one start since a disappointing spring, finishing eighth in a Listed race at the Gold Coast during the Brisbane winter carnival.
Chris Waller will prepare Rugged Cross on a five-day back-up from finishing fourth behind Centre Pivot at Rosehill on Saturday.
A winner at Listed grade in July, the race shapes as the seven-year-old’s final start for the stable before goes to a tried horses sale on Friday.