Having been beaten less than a length in two Group races in the past month, talented mare Vezalay will front up again at Caulfield in the How Now Stakes in pursuit of a breakthrough stakes win.
And trainer Leon Corstens is confident the mare can get the job done this time.
Vezalay
After a convincing first-up win at Caulfield in a mares’ 1100m handicap Vezalay has since finished third, beaten a half length, in the Group Three Cockram Stakes and then hit the front 200m out in last Saturday’s Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington only to be chased down inside the final 50m.
The four-year-old finished sixth in a blanket finish to the 1400m mares’ race but was beaten less than a length.
Vezalay drops in distance to 1200m on Saturday on a seven-day back-up.
“She’s come through the race really well and that’s the reason I’ve decided to back her up,” Corstens said.
“She does really well in the feed bin and it’s hard to win races while they’re in their box.
“I think that she’ll be very hard to beat. It’s a tough field, there’s definitely no easy pickings at this time of the year, but I’m sure she’ll be there.”
Corstens has no worries about dropping back in trip to 1200m with Vezalay who is likely to have only two more sprint starts during the spring.
The Corstens team are also looking to take Vezalay to Queensland in January for a lucrative race on the Magic Millions raceday.
Vezalay is the $3.90 favourite for Saturday’s race ahead of Hazard ($6).
Hazard was a close second to Madam Gangster in the Cockram Stakes last start with Vezalay third.