By Ray Hickson
September 26, 2023 — 6.00pm
The bar is a little higher for Allasandra’s campaign kick-off after she rushed through her grades earlier this year, so trainer David Payne is a little cautious about the mare’s return at Rosehill today.
It seems the four-year-old hasn’t quite shaken off her winter coat just yet, so Payne suspects she may need the run in the Kia Handicap (1300m).
Trainer David Payne is concerned four-year-old mare Allasandra could be short of a run Credit: Jenny Evans
Allasandra hasn’t won first-up previously, but she did commence her last prep with a solid third on the Kensington track before going on to win three straight, including a midweek city race.
“She’s been off a little while and I think she might be just short of a run,” Payne said.
“She’s come back well, but she still has a bit of a winter coat, so that tells you she’s not quite there yet.”
Payne has given the mare one trial in the lead-up to her return, customary for him, and hopes she can at least match her previous fresh effort having drawn favourably.
The third of her wins last time in came in similar grade to what she faces first-up.
“She ended with three wins and a second, so it wasn’t bad preparation,” he said.
“Most of my horses resume with one trial. She’ll run a good race, but I’m just a bit wary of her coat telling me she has improvement.”
State Of America had a hard luck tale to tell when third at Canterbury two weeks ago and Payne said he’s mulling over whether to run in the James Squire Handicap (1800m) or save him for a Midway at Randwick on Saturday.
He said it’s hard to give up an inside draw and will examine the likely field for the Midway before making a choice, but added the horse is racing in super form.
If he does line up, he’s confident State Of America will be hard to beat.
“He should have won the other day, he was a bit stiff,” he said.
Stablemate Midnight Harry needs to turn things around in the TAB We’re On Handicap (1200m).
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The three-year-old started his career on a promising note with a couple of placings at Hawkesbury, but hasn’t quite matched those efforts in two subsequent starts.
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