By MIKE DILLON
She may have won only one race, but Mi Centie has the killer instinct.
She just needs the chance to produce it.
The talented Matamata filly has a job to beat the favourite, flying St Therese in the $30,000 Goldstar Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie tomorrow, but she can give it a big shake.
St Therese looked not only talented, but a naturally relaxed front runner when she was caught in the last couple of strides by She's A Meanie in the 1600m Thames Valley Stakes at Tauranga two weeks ago.
Mi Centie will have Grant Cooksley to help her with a much tougher 1600m at Ellerslie and will look the likely winner for a long way.
She has the talent to stay handy and kick hard in a tough finish as she showed when beaten only a nose by Ballina Kate in the Lindauer Guineas Trial on this track in September.
She was then lucky not to fall when jammed up in the home-straight incident which cost Diamond Cashel her chance at Te Rapa, and failed last start in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.
That run is best forgotten.
Mi Centie was caught back on the rails in the worst part of a choppy track and failed to get into the action.
This is much more her sort of race.
In keeping with all fillies races this season, there is a depth of talent engaged.
Piper Star, Spirit Of The Nite, and Danasia are there to keep the favourite honest.
Piper Star's fifth in the 2000 Guineas was a better run than it looked. She got a long way off the leaders and although still nearly nine lengths off the winner Tit For Tat, made up ground in the straight.
Spirit Of The Nite similarly made ground from last when fifth to Butterscotch over 1400m at Tauranga and will not be hampered by the step to 1600m.
The strength of the 3-year-old fillies is exemplified by there being only one colt or gelding in the top six in the handicap in the Mercedes Derby Trial.
Topweight is Komplete Kaos, who will carry 56kg in an attempt to prove to trainer Donna Logan she is a worthy prospect for the $350,000 Mercedes Derby on Boxing Day.
Everything Komplete Kaos does suggests she is a likely stayer, but there is niggling doubt with Logan.
"Being by Desert Sun she's hardly bred to run the 2400m of the Derby, but she acts like a stayer and races like one, so this race will probably tell us."
Despite an immature frame, Komplete Kaos is going forward rather than backwards with each race.
"It's remarkable, but she's strengthening as we go, which is encouraging.
Unlike most in the field, Zepheros has already raced at 2000m, finishing second to Maythehorsebewithu at Avondale, a run which fitted her well for this.
Racing: Chance to show killer instinct
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