KEY POINTS:
Top New Zealand mare Gee I Jane's trackwork has convinced trainer Neville Couchman to give her a final career start today before visiting the broodmare's paddock.
Six-year-old Gee I Jane will carry the 58.5kg equal topweight and jump from barrier 15 in the listed A$125,000 ($138,000) Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton in northern New South Wales.
After initially talking retirement in the wake of her disappointing 15th in the group one Stradbroke Handicap at Brisbane's Eagle Farm a month ago, Couchman convinced her owners to pay up for three subsequent runs but vowed today will be her last.
"She's done that well after her last run she might as well have one more race, then head straight to the Hunter Valley to be served in the spring," Couchman said.
Owners Keiran McCarthy and Lance Mackie decided on Coolmore Stud but haven't settled on her paddock mate.
The two leading candidates were Coolmore's flagship stallions Encosta De Lago, which commands a service fee of A$220,000, and Rock of Gibraltar, which stands at A$82,000.
Gee I Jane produced the best run of her disappointing Queensland winter campaign when fifth, beaten a half-length, after taking the unfamiliar role of pacemaker in the Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) on an unsuitable heavy track at Caloundra on June 30.
Couchman felt today's field, in which Gee I Jane shares topweight with prolific country galloper Newton's Rings, was weaker than the Glasshouse in which she also carried 58.5kg.
Grafton has largely escaped the big wet in New South Wales, and the track was yesterday rated good, with showers forecast.
"If the track's between good and slow I'll be pretty confident," Couchman said.
"The way she's been working I'd expect her to go really well. You'd have to be confident on her last run.
"She's weighted as the best horse in the race and she's back to 1200m which is her best distance."
Gee I Jane was yesterday rated a $A6.50 second favourite at the NSW TAB.
Couchman was happy with jockey Bobby El'Issa's ride at Caloundra and said he would have no problems with Gee I Jane racing handy today if there wasn't a cut-throat pace.
She will come into barrier 12 if the balloted runners all miss out.
Smart Tamworth sprinter The Jackal, who won the Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm last start, was an early $4.40 favourite and will carry 58kg.
This will be Gee I Jane's 35th start in a career which earned her owners $885,000.
Two of her six wins were at group one level, both last season: the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham and the BTC Cup at Doomben, and she ran second to La Montagna in last year's Stradbroke.
- NZPA
