Racing: Scan waits until mare has raced

Waikato trainer Bill Borrie has postponed a pregnancy scan on Miss Potential in case it upsets her before running in the group one Myer Classic at Flemington tomorrow.

"She is starting to settle down here at Mornington and enjoying life, so I thought let's not invade her privacy before this race," Borrie said.

Miss Potential was served by international stallion Red Ransom at Vinery Stud in the Hunter Valley on October 10.

Borrie doesn't know whether she is in foal yet, but is prepared to wait until after tomorrow as it's an important race for the mare.

She won it last year, when it was named the Nestle Peters Classic, downing the talented Victorian filly Alinghi. It also has prizemoney of A$500,000.

Miss Potential missed some vital galloping work while she was at Hunter Valley and it showed at the end of the group two Waterford Crystal Mile last Saturday.

She led for most of the race, but her condition gave out in the last 150 metres and she finished a creditable third.

Borrie said she had improved from that run and a blood test taken this week had proved all is well.

Race rider Reese Jones galloped her yesterday in her final lead-up gallop for tomorrow's race in which she faces two of New Zealand's best gallopers of last season, She's Justa Tad and Calveen.

Borrie said Miss Potential's draw of 10 gives Jones the option of going forward or settling off the pace. The latter is not normal for her, but she is quite capable of doing it and performing well, he said.

Miss Potential is in the twilight of her racing career, but Borrie said no decisions would be made until after the race and pregnancy scan.

Vinny Colgan will ride She's Justa Tad. He rode her in New Zealand last season, but missed out on her AJC Oaks run because he had a broken ankle. Larry Cassidy and Stephen Baster have ridden her since. Baster was suspended for his Cox Plate ride on God's Own and trainer Rudy Liefting has reverted to Colgan.

Meanwhile, Replicator could become a Melbourne Cup hope if he wins the Victoria Derby tomorrow.

The Cup was a serious option for Replicator, said trainer Anthony Cummings, because he thinks he is the superior stayer in the field.

The winner of the Derby gains automatic entry to the field for the Cup on payment of a A$132,000 late entry fee and carries weight-for-age (49kg).

Transtasman trainer Graeme Rogerson was delighted to get barrier two for his horse, Duelled, whom he thinks can win.

Rogerson said his fellow owners had decided the Cup was not an option should Duelled win the Derby. Duelled won the AAMI Vase last Saturday.

Pendragon is race favourite, but he eased in betting after drawing barrier 15.

He was $2 before the draw, but is now as much as $2.70.

- NZPA