There is no doubting the ability I Am Velvet possesses, and trainer Phillip Stokes is convinced the filly has overcome her wayward tendencies.
I Am Velvet is set to have her first start at Flemington when she runs in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) on Saturday which Stokes hopes will lead the filly to the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on November 16.
During her two-year-old campaign I Am Velvet was unbeaten in three starts but did show a tendency to hang in, a trait that eventually earned her a warning from stewards after victory over 1400m at Caulfield in July.
Stokes set to work about straightening the filly out, sending her Julien Welsh who is renowned for getting problem horses back on track.
Welsh worked on the barrier antics of Japanese galloper Prognosis ahead of last week’s Cox Plate before running second to Via Sistina.
While Stokes said Welsh had worked some of his magic on I Am Velvet, a course of dressage and a lugging bit have also done their job.
“She has straightened out her manners quite a bit,” Stokes said.
“She lays in, but is not hanging, so she’s quite controllable.
“We changed the bit and did some dressage work with her. We sent her to Julien Welsh’s and mixed things up a bit and she seems a lot more tractable.”
I Am Velvet has had one run back since Stokes sent the filly off for remedial work, finishing an unlucky fourth behind Kuroyanagi at Caulfield on October 12.
The filly looked a handful for Daniel Stackhouse, who has the ride again on Saturday, but I Am Velvet was, Stokes said, a victim of circumstances.
“Everyone thought she was hanging, but she wasn’t,” Stokes said.
“He was trying to get her over heels because there was not enough room to take a run on the fence.
“She came through the run well as she never really came off the bit and we know 1400 metres will not be a problem and the Flemington will suit, a nice big track.
“So, she’ll go to The Vanity and if everything’s OK after that, she’ll head to the Thousand Guineas.”