If you're good, you obviously have to say so.
Lance O'Sullivan did and it landed him the winning ride on She's A Meanie in the $40,000 Thames Valley Stakes at Tauranga.
O'Sullivan knew She's A Meanie's regular rider Peter Johnson was committed to the McKee-trained Lyn's Legacy for Saturday and called the mare's trainer Peter Milich.
The answerphone clicked on and O'Sullivan said: "I've been watching this mare's videos and I'd suit her."
Milich could not argue with that after the pair flashed home late to grab the pacemaking St Therese, who looked certain to win with only five or six strides to go.
The victory helped underline how underrated the winner is.
"I might look to pay a late entry into the Avondale Cup," said Milich.
"I want to get her up over ground because she takes a stayer's stride.
"She's also better when there is pace on like today and the Avondale Cup is generally run that way.
"I've got to be careful with her though because she's a bit frail and because of her size she can't take a lot of knocks in her races."
While Johnson had to watch She's A Meanie win aboard fourth-placed Lyn's Legacy at least he went home knowing he was on a rapidly improving mare.
Lyn's Legacy does not have the electric sprint of the first three home, but she fought well and will appreciate a step beyond 1600m when it comes.
It was not all good news for O'Sullivan though.
He looked a certainty beaten on favourite So Lets early in the programme when the mare, who was jogging on the corner, was badly blocked for room in the home straight.
And in the last race a please explain was requested by stipendiary stewards when hot favourite Mick did not attempt an inside gap in the straight.
O'Sullivan's defence was that inside gaps had not been frequent through the day and he had already made his mind up to try and ease out for a gap when the inside opening appeared.
Mick was never in a position to win, the race being won by stablemate Danasia, giving Trudy Collett five wins for the day.
But then it was not a bad week for O'Sullivan - he got a late call-up to represent New Zealand when last season's champion rider Opie Bosson broke a collarbone at Riccarton last Wednesday.
And that means big money in the bank.
* * *
If there was lingering doubt that the 3-year-old fillies are stronger than the colts Butterscotch probably eliminated it at Tauranga.
The talented filly put her name down for possible $150,000 Bayer Classic honours by carrying 57kg, 3kg clear topweight to one of the easiest Tauranga wins on Saturday.
Part owner and co-trainer Jim Gibbs is not worried about jumping to the Bayer's 1600m with Butterscotch.
"I know she is by a speed sire in Gold Brose from a very fast mare in Bali Sugar and everyone thinks she's just a speed machine, but she's not," said Gibbs yesterday.
"She's competitive and very gutsy."
Butterscotch's record is starting to look pretty good. She won when resuming this season, was then eliminated from contention by Spring Rain at Hastings, went back to Hastings to finish second to the horse she probably has to beat in the Bayer, Star Satire, and has won her last two.
"She lost a bit of her confidence from the Spring Rain affair when she ran second to Star Satire and they ran real time that day."
Gibbs knows Butterscotch will probably not successfully get past 1600m and that the Bayer is a tough 1600m, but is not discounting his chances of group one success.
"I've had some good fillies and this one is right up there.
"She pricked her ears when she got to the front this time and there is a fair bit of improvement in her."
* * *
Don't look at Biennale's legs and you see a good horse.
One that is capable of going through the grades to win a good race in the next four or five months.
It might take that long only because trainers Chris and Colleen Wood are not prepared to risk the valuable mare's dodgy pins on the rock hard surfaces of mid-summer.
"She will be a nice type to take to Melbourne for some good fillies and mares races in the autumn," said Chris Wood after Biennale bolted home at Tauranga.
"The track today, while fast, is not concrete and that suited her."
Had fresh-up runner Emerald Dream worked into the clear earlier she may have made it interesting with Biennale. Emerald Dream flew into third late from near last on a day when a fierce tail wind gave leaders a big shunt forward.
Desperately unlucky runners earlier were So Lets and Prince Ottwood, both denied runs until the race was virtually over.
Racing: Punters prosper as O'Sullivan backs himself
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