Racing: Potential to lead - potential to succeed

Stradbroke Handicaps are rarely won by leaders.

But this year might be different and if that's the case Miss Potential could end her remarkable career on a magnificent note.

In Brisbane yesterday the big talk in racing circles was what was going to lead in tomorrow's A$1 million ($1.18 million) Stradbroke Handicap.

The only name anyone could come up with was Miss Potential.

"She's going to lead and probably lead very easily," said Queensland's senior racing writer Bart Sinclair. "And if that's the case she can probably win."

Miss Potential at her best is a match for anything.

She twice stretched the neck of Starcraft and beat the champion filly of her year Alinghi in the A$500,000 Nestle Stakes at Flemington.

To win, Miss Potential has to come back from injury - but that is nothing new for a mare that came back to group one form after breaking a leg.

The New Zealand mare was badly buffeted before finishing fourth in the Doomben 10,000 two weeks ago.

The result was cuts to her leg, one of which became infected.

"The place we're staying at down at the Gold Coast, Wadham Park, is magnificent, it has four stabling complexes, but no electricity," said owner and trainer Bill Borrie.

"We bandaged the mare up at the track, but it was dark when we got home. We dressed each of the cuts as we remembered them, but we missed one and that was the one that blew up and became infected overnight."

Queensland stewards ordered Miss Potential to undergo a veterinary inspection early this week, which she passed, and is to have another tomorrow morning.

"If they bat us out of the race it will be a kangaroo court, but I don't think they have reason to," said Borrie.

The leg cuts apart, Miss Potential is thriving.

"I had her blood done this morning and it's perfect."

For a group one winner, Miss Potential looks well placed in the handicap with 54kg, but handicaps are relative and having fellow Kiwi Cog Hill down on 52kg puts perspective into the equation.

Miss Potential drew barrier No 18, which under normal circumstances would be a disaster.

But if the predictions of the lack of early speed are right, she should cross to the rail without obstruction.

"You can be wrong in predicting these things, but it looks as if the usual blinding early speed will be missing," says Sinclair.

"In Stradbrokes they usually leave the gates and take off into the night."

Which sets the race up for back runners hitting the line strongly.

If Chris Johnson can lead on his own with Miss Potential he should be able to rate her perfectly in front, a scenario which admirably suits.

Cog Hill drew the No 19 gate outside Miss Potential, which will make it tough for him and Gee I Jane is even worse off with No 24. The No 13 draw for the other New Zealander La Sizeranne is not ideal, but it is better.

Trainer Richard Collett said he accepted that if Cog Hill could not get over close to the rail with cover his chances would be badly hampered.

"I'll leave that up to [rider] Michael Rodd," said Collett.

Cog Hill is dropping back from the 1600m of the weight-for-age race he won in his Queensland debut to 1400m this time and to offset any disadvantage, Collett will use a set of blinkers on the horse tomorrow.

Borrie rates Cog Hill the horse to beat. "I saw him the other day and he looks magnificent."

Yesterday, the New Zealand TAB had Cog Hill at $7 and he was $9 in Australia. Gee I Jane came up at $9 ($13 in Australia), Miss Potential was fairly even at $16 and $15, as was La Sizeranne, $8.50 and $9.

Sprint on

* New Zealand has four strong chances in Queensland's biggest sprint.

* Cog Hill is the most favoured of the quartet at $7 on the New Zealand TAB and $9 in Australia.

* Miss Potential has fully recovered from the leg cuts received in the Doomben 10,000, but will still have to pass a veterinary inspection tomorrow morning.

* A lack of early speed in the race could see Miss Potential lead easily.