KEY POINTS:
Unless things happen in threes as legend would have us believe, Dorabella is going to be very difficult to keep out in tomorrow's $120,000 Gasmate Stakes at Te Rapa.
Trainers Howie and Lorraine Mathews were delighted their worries were finally over when Dorabella ended a mysterious run of below par form with back-to-back wins culminating in the group one Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham.
To prove that nothing lasts forever in horse racing, Dorabelle's two starts since Trentham have been nothing but trouble.
She was squeezed out of contention on the home bend in the $275,000 Coupland's Bakeries Mile at Riccarton and last start at Ellerslie she not only found the drop back to 1400m against her, the racing pattern did not suit her back-running style and she copped an ordinary run in transit.
The Mathews will have those unfortunate efforts to console themselves with as they head into tomorrow's big race.
The key is a decent surface and the step back up to 1600m.
"I'm very pleased with her," said Howie Mathews yesterday.
Kirra Sand finished only sixth behind Xcellent at Ellerslie last start, but it proved to be not her ideal type of race. She sat outside the leaders and in a tough run down the home straight couldn't keep the likes of Xcellent, Sir Slick and Wahid at bay.
She is much better running at the leaders late as she showed in winning the Cuddle Stakes at Trentham two starts ago and back against her own sex this time she has a great chance of getting some of the big stake.
Penny Florence looked the improver when finishing on out wide in the Breeders Stakes at Ellerslie that Dorabella was beaten in.
That was only her second start back from a break and should have her very ready for this.
