BRISBANE - Trainer Roger Jmes has conceded a luxury weight for his filly Giovana may not be enough for her to win today's $A200,000 Grand Prix Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Giovana is the only filly of the 11 acceptors and under the conditions of the race comes in with the lightweight of 50.5kg, which is up to 7.5kg less than her rivals.
Topweight at 58kg is AJC Derby winner Freeway, while at 57kg is Freemason who at his last start won the $A200,000 Packer Plate (2000m) in Sydney for 3-year-olds.
James Freeway and Freemason remained hard to beat, despite the weight they were giving to rivals.
"I think, to be realistic, with Freeway and Freemason in there, if you ran third behind them you would consider to be right on course for an Oaks," said James.
"Anything better would be a real bonus."
The main aim for Giovana is the $A325,000 Queensland Oaks (2400m) for three-year-old fillies at Eagle Farm on June 3.
Despite the opposition James says today's race is an ideal opportunity for Giovana.
He had picked out the same race for his well-performed mare Melora a couple of years ago. James said the race was not run when wet weather caused the day's racing to be abandoned but Melora went on to be placed in both the Queensland Oaks and the Queensland Derby.
Giovana arrived in Brisbane on Tuesday and James said the report from his staff was she had travelled and settled in well.
"She's got a lovely attitude; a very laid back filly and she's done everything right," he said.
Giovana is having her first start for James. She was placed in James' care for the Brisbane campaign by owner Carol Marshall who previously trained the horse.
Four of the acceptors are from New Zealand stables.
The other three are The Sledge (Les Didham), Citi Habit (Bruce Marsh) and Mr Nadir Shah (Mark Walker) but all, including Giovana, are outside the first three favourites in early betting markets.
Giovana was listed as the most fancied at 8-1 with Citi Habit and The Sledge both at 12-1. Mr Nadir Shah was at 20-1.
Fairway was the favourite at 9-4 followed by Freemason at 7-2 and Queensland Guineas winner Magnifier (9-2).
New Zealand's best chance of a win today could be at the Gold Coast where the Bruce Marsh-trained Tycoon Babe runs in a $A7000 class one race for fillies and mares over 1110m.
Tycoon Babe is a Last Tycoon half-sister to stable star Cheiron. The three-year-old filly has raced once, for a maiden win at Hastings on April 15.
Tycoon Babe has the topweight of 56kg and is to be ridden by Josh Pollard who was apprenticed to Marsh but has been based in Queensland for several years.
The response from Marsh when asked if Tycoon Babe would be hard to beat was: "I would certainly hope so."
- NZPA
Racing: Giovana may find going tough against the boys
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