Neville Couchman is warning punters to ignore the current form line with speedster Gee I Jane heading into today's $200,000 Railway Handicap at Ellerslie.
Gee I Jane was disappointing in a three-race spring campaign in Melbourne, although a lung infection did not help the mare's performances.
"I was happy enough
with her first-up run in Melbourne as she drew off the track and we decided to race her back in the field and she ran some impressive closing sectional times," said the Cambridge trainer.
"In her next start in the straight sprint down the Flemington straight she never really handled it and I was told by the jockey that she was lost running in a straight line.
"It was in her next start at Sandown that I was disappointed in her effort and that was when I had a vet go over her and he found that she had a lung infection.
"That would explain a lot of things. Outwardly she looked very well but she just wasn't producing the goods on the racetrack."
Gee I Jane has performed like a different racehorse since returning to training in her familiar Cambridge environment and Couchman is quietly confident of a bold performance in the Group One sprint.
"We gave her a hit out at the Cambridge trials recently and I was very happy with the way she performed. I was happy enough with the way she was training before that trial but her efforts since have impressed me.
"I've put the blinkers back on her for the Railway just to get her keener and focused for this race.
"We drew the outside alley in this race last year and she powered home to finish second.
"She's a back runner who finishes her races off strongly and she'll handle any type of track."
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
