Racing: Sights trained on open mile

Te Awamutu trainer Graeme Sanders does not make a habit of nominating two-win horses for $250,000 open miles.

But Leigh Valley, who is already second favourite for the 1st Couplands Bakeries Mile on November 9, is not your everyday, lower-grade pretender.

The Bianconi 4-year-old quickly repaid the early entry fee for Riccarton with an impressive R92 win at Paeroa on September 17, her third victory from just eight starts.

Now she just needs to win again today at Te Aroha and at Ellerslie on October 8, and the Sanders master plan to sneak the exciting mare into the Couplands feature should be complete.

"We've had a few niggly problems with her along the way so we just take each race at a time with her," said Sanders, who trains in partnership with daughter Debbie Sweeney.

"But I have expected her to come up to the best level all the time. I've always rated her highly and if she keeps on improving like she has, she should go a big race at the bottom of the handicap at Riccarton."

If the TAB's fixed odds market for Riccarton is any guide, Sanders is not alone in that thinking.

Yesterday Leigh Valley was a $10 equal second fancy for the November 9 feature, just two points shy of last year's Kelt champion Balmuse.

Behind the restricted grade performer were proven black type guns The Jewel, Sedecrem, The Raj and Maroofity, among many others.

Sanders says he hasn't taken any notice of that market.

He's only focused on one thing - putting Leigh Valley's fourth win on the board today against opposition she will need to crush if she's a hope at Riccarton in just six weeks.

Both her starts in this campaign suggest she should.

She ran Arlingtonboulevard, who followed up with an easy New Plymouth victory against a class field last Saturday, to less than a length fresh-up at Te Rapa over this trip on September 7.

That margin would have been even less if rider Gary Grylls hadn't been held up at a vital stage in the straight.

Then last time out over 1350m at Paeroa she blitzed past I Rock My World who backed up with an easy win against a stronger field at Ellerslie at the weekend.

The fast improving Florence May should pave the way for a double for the Sanders/Sweeney stable today.

She killed a maiden field last time out at Te Rapa over 1400m and the extra 200m the Grosvenor mare strikes in the fourth for apprentice riders is ideal.

"She has really come of age with extra time," said Sanders.

"Florence May is an out-and-out stayer but she should race well in that grade.'