Trainer Mark Jones has a plan he is almost certain will see his fillies get beaten in tonight's $130,000 Sires' Stakes Final at Alexandra Park, but that doesn't mean he is going to sway.
Jones trains La Rosa (R5, No 3) and Braeview Kelly (10) in the Group 1, where they come up against the outstanding staying filly Bettor Twist.
When they all clashed at Alexandra Park on December 11, La Rosa led and looked to have her rivals in trouble at the top of the straight before Bettor Twist simply outstayed her, a winning performance made all the more remarkable because she had a flat sulky tyre.
But while La Rosa couldn't hold Bettor Twist at bay that night, Canterbury trainer Jones says he will instruct driver Samantha Ottley to employ the same tactics tonight rather than taking a trail.
"That is the way the owners want her driven and I agree with them," says Jones. "I think if she handed the lead to Bettor Twist we have no chance of beating her and sure we might run second but you go in these Group 1 races to win.