Star mare Aardiebytheseaside will be out to make it back-to-back wins in the $75,000 Empress Stakes (2536m) when she meets a stellar field at Gloucester Park tomorrow night.
The Greg and Skye Bond-trained mare made a big impression on debut for the stable in last year’s edition of the race, where she rated one second quicker than the Nullarbor on the same night.
While Aardiebytheseaside brings the best credentials to tomorrow night’s event as the reigning Empress Stakes and Mares Classic winner, she lines up against fellow quality mares Penny Black, Wonderful To Fly and Nullarbor Navajo.
The five-year-old started her campaign finishing third to Nullarbor Navajo in the Golden Girls Mile (1684m) at Pinjarra, before a gallant performance at Free-For-All level behind Wonderful To Fly at her most recent performance.
Co-trainer Greg Bond said the mare had taken plenty of benefit from her first two starts for the preparation.
“Last year, she won this race first-up for us,” Bond told TABradio.
“She always races well fresh, but she did pull up very big in the Golden Girls at Pinjarra.
“We really stepped up her workload.
“I thought her run in that high pressure race two weeks ago was great.
“She just peaked on her run late and we’ve been very happy with her since.”
Making Aardiebytheseaside’s task of winning the Group 2 event is what Bond described as “a tricky draw” in barrier six.
Nullarbor Navajo, who enters the race off the back of a tough win last week, has drawn the best of the key chances in barrier two.
Wonderful To Fly (barrier five), Little Darling (eight) and Penny Black (nine) are also considered among the main chances in the Empress Stakes.
Despite drawing outside some of the fancied runners, Aardiebytheseaside is a $2.40 TABtouch favourite, ahead of Penny Black ($3.40) and Nullabor Navajo ($4.20).
Meanwhile, the Aiden De Campo-trained Ideal Muscle is the $4.20 favourite for the Garrards Horse & Hound Easter Cup (2503m).
Major Express, Spyglass, Star Casino and Chilli Punter are also considered among the major chances in the standing start event.
Tim Walker
Image - Pacepix