Racing: Crutchley to toughen up Mi Jubilee's programme

SYDNEY - Wanganui trainer Stephen Crutchley will step up Mi Jubilee's training programme after he said the horse ruined her chances by over-racing in the Furious Stakes at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday.

Last season's top New Zealand filly compounded to finish last after rocketing along in front, cutting out the first 800m in 46.63 seconds.

But she had nothing left in the tank by the 400m and finished some eight lengths behind winner Mnemosyne in the 1400m event.

Crutchley said Mi Jubilee raced so keenly, she knocked jockey Scott Seamer, giving him a bloodied nose.

It was a performance that embarrassed Crutchley, but he wasn't about to call off her Sydney campaign.

"I just don't think she's fit enough," Crutchley said yesterday.

"I think she has done too well.

"I think she is up to those horses but she just about blew the house down after the race yesterday."

Crutchley said Mi Jubilee had shown a trend to over-race in New Zealand as a young horse.

"It took us a few runs to get her sorted out."

The same process is required again.

He said he would modify her training regime and work her more at full speed.

As her fitness improves, she should settle better and finish off her races, according to Crutchley.

"We will probably race again on Saturday at Rosehill over 1100m. There is an open 1200m but I think I will shy away from that because she is not fit enough to take on those [older] horses yet."

He hopes to have her back on track to rejoin the Princess series, which culminates with the group one Flight Stakes at Randwick on October 1.

The trainer is confident that fully fit and racing tractably, she can be competitive with the best Sydney fillies over a mile.

- NZPA