After changing course and electing to bypass an interstate trip to Adelaide, Bunbury trainer Michael Lane has confidently set his sights on staying home and winning the Group 3 Tabtouch Northam Stakes (1300m) with stable star, The Boss Lady, this weekend.
Taking on crack Group 1 sprinters in the Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday was real and genuine for Lane and went into overdrive after The Boss Lady proved her mettle with a sound sixth in last Saturday week’s $ 5 million Quokka (1200m).
But citing travel logistics and the looming presence of gun comeback sprinter Giga Kick in Adelaide’s premier short-course race as main barriers against The Boss Lady, Lane’s changed tack and believes he’s made the right call.
He’s quietly confident The Boss Lady will make her presence felt against 14 other rivals in Sunday’s $200,000 Northam Stakes.
“Going to Adelaide after the Quokka was always the plan but going away everything has to be perfect and in place,” Lane said.
“There was a bit involved travelling wise, flying over east, floating to Adelaide and then you include travel from home at Bunbury.
“Then you have a horse like Giga Kick who was going to be a half kilo off us, and you take that into your thinking.
“It was all planned, but in the end, I got a bit nervous and had cold feet.
“It was more those logistical concerns and nothing to do with her form or anything like that.
“She came through the Quokka really good and I couldn’t be more pleased with her.”
After ending her previous campaign with three straight wins, including a maiden Listed triumph in the Jungle Dawn Classic (1400m), The Boss Lady picked up where she left off when resuming in last month’s Roma Cup (1100m).
The four-year-old dead-heated with Jokers Grin but was awarded the Group 3 event after jockey Brad Parnham’s protest was upheld by stewards.
Jokers Grin exacted revenge in the Quokka two weeks later, but Lane is adamant, The Boss Lady, beaten 1 ½ lengths, could have reduced the margin with an element of luck.
“She got pushed out and shunted around the corner,” Lane said.
“Without that interference she could have gone closer.
“I thought it was a really good run.
“She was strong to the line and pulled up super.
“She’s as good as can be for Sunday.
“It’s a great race and there’s no hiding.
“It will give us another good idea of where she’s at.
“She’ll go to the Belmont Sprint (1400m) after Sunday and then we can look at the Winterbottom (1200m) and Gold Rush (1400m) later this year.”
The Boss Lady has displaced Saloon Bar as favourite, firming from $4.80 into $4.20.
Saloon Bar is out to $4.60; West Star is $5.50 and Magnificent Andy $7.
The Boss Lady steps from barrier nine and will be ridden by Joe Azzopardi.
Julio Santarelli