By Michael Guerin
Unbeaten filly Tupelo Rose will be a significantly better horse at Alexandra Park tomorrow night than when nearly beaten there last week.
The southerner arrived north with an enormous reputation last month and it looked to be justified when she bolted away with her debut, beating her most favoured rival in tomorrow night's feature, London Express.
Then last week she only just held out Ciccio Star by a nose after having an easy time in front and the big reputation looked a little shaky.
But forget that says trainer Wayne Ross who is adamant the best will be seen of Tupelo Rose in tomorrow night's Juvenile Championship.
"She was a fair way below her best last week because she was short of work," said Ross.
Tupelo Rose nearly cost herself victory by pulling very hard last week but Ross says that won't be a problem tomorrow night.
"She only pulls like that when she is fresh. But that race will have improved her and her work this week has been a lot better."
Tupelo Rose is a naturally gifted pacer who should have little problem finding the front tomorrow night and if she produces her best she will take an enormous amount of running down.
But at least one trainer isn't conceding defeat yet.
Cran Dalgety was confident he had the best juvenile in New Zealand when London Express won his first three races but was left stunned when he couldn't get near Tupelo Rose at last month.
"I was very disappointed in his run that night but he obviously wasn't at his best," said Dalgety.
"I think he will be a lot better horse for this race because I was thrilled with the way he went at the workouts last week."
London Express paced his last mile in a workout last Saturday in 2:1, his final 800m in 58 seconds and has already shown he can work in his races and still win, as he did when sitting parked in the Cardigan Bay Stakes in December.
"I think the way he feels at the moment he could sit parked outside Tupelo Rose for the last 800m and push her very close, especially over the 2200m which will suit my fella perfectly."
One intangible in London Express' favour is the superior record juvenile pacing colts have over fillies, with few fillies having been good enough to claim the Juvenile Championship.
But the fillies will get few better chances than tomorrow night, with Ciccio Star drawn to trail Tupelo Rose and take advantage of any energy-sapping war between the southern favourites.
Horse Racing: Rose to bloom in Juvenile Champs
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.