KEY POINTS:
Mark Brosnan admits he was as stumped as punters after Veloce Bella's Anniversary Handicap shocker at Trentham earlier this month.
The Matamata trainer ordered every conceivable test to explain the January 17 flop, arguably the mare's worst effort in 23 starts.
But on the eve of the three-time group two winner's return to the track in the $20,000 SkyCity Hamilton Casino Cup (2000m) at Te Rapa tomorrow he has no definitive answers.
"We couldn't find anything wrong with her - that's why we're running again to see where we are with her," said Brosnan.
"The track was really firm that day and there was also a gate malfunction and they all had a decent go at the barrier stalls.
"But they were all in the same boat with that."
Brosnan also feels that Veloce Bella could now be looking for more ground than the 1600m she struck at Trentham during the aborted Thorndon Mile trip.
After all, her close-up seventh in the Zabeel Classic (2000m) two starts back was against her usual pattern of racing and one of the highlights of the race.
"If she puts her best foot forward at Te Rapa, quite obviously, at the weights [54kg] she'd have to be hard to beat," said Brosnan, who can't fault the 5 -year-old's condition.
"If she happened to win we'd have to look at backing her up in the Whakanui Stud Stakes a week later."
Leith Innes has his first ride on the mare tomorrow, but Brosnan says that's no reflection on Michael Coleman, the horse's regular pilot so far this season.
"Maybe a change of jockey might be what she's wanting," he said.
Brosnan is also hopeful of a form reversal tomorrow from stablemate and topweight Valley Chief in the same race.
He said the Te Rapa course specialist didn't travel as well as he could have when seventh to Court Ruler in the group three Trentham Stakes.
"He wasn't 100 per cent down there; he should give another honest account."
The underrated Heracles looks a likely danger.
