Paul O'Sullivan produced a maiden giant-killer in the form of Little Jamie to win last year's Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes at Awapuni.
The Matamata trainer has been given a golden opportunity to repeat the dose in tomorrow's $120,000 group one race for two-year-olds with Volksraad filly Modena Bay.
Going into last year's race Little Jamie was a maiden but with an impressive form line at the top level. Modena Bay is in a similar scenario.
The filly has weighed in twice behind talented Te Awamutu filly Damaschino, once behind juvenile sensation Flying Babe and last start bowed to the explosive talents of San Luis.
Little Jamie appeared to have a major task ahead of him to beat the likes of Spring Rain, Alberton Star, Star Satire and Secret Liaisons in last year's Sires' Produce, but beat them he did.
With that in mind, O'Sullivan knows only too well what a difference it can make with two-year-olds going from 1200m to 1400m for the Sires' Produce. Sometimes, the form guide goes out the window.
Modena Bay has given O'Sullivan every indication that 1400m will suit her and will instruct his brother and jockey Lance O'Sullivan to keep that in mind.
"For that reason, I'm going to ask Lance to ride her more patiently this time," he said.
"This is the first real opportunity we've had to do it because bad draws have meant using her up early to gain a position."
O'Sullivan says the No 1 barrier was undoubtedly the confidence boost he'd been waiting for.
"Previously, we've had to ride her for luck, and that has proved costly at the business end," he said.
O'Sullivan wasn't drawn on comparing Little Jamie and Modena Bay, but said the filly was not there to just make up the numbers.
"We're here chasing that very important 'black type' and for the filly to just finish third could mean so much to her pedigree and future value as a broodmare."
O'Sullivan will be looking for a track no worse than easy.
"Every time we've brought horses to Awapuni at this time of the year the track conditions have been ideal, and I'm sure the same will apply again," he said.
"It's so vital these top horses perform to the best of their ability on the ground they prefer, so let's hope the weather holds."
He also said that Modena Bay's sire Volksraad could hold the key to the race, with Vinaka and Blackrock College, both by the Windsor Park Stud stallion, the two prime dangers, along with San Luis, who won the group three Ford 2YO Classic at New Plymouth.
"Vinaka is a lovely horse, improving all the time, and I think he might have the wood on San Luis, despite the latter's impressive win at New Plymouth," he said.
"So there is every possibility of a Volksraad trifecta with Vinaka, Modena Bay and Blackrock College."
- NZPA
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