By BARRY STREET
Winning the Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes tomorrow with Flying Babe would be icing on a large cake for New Zealand's guru of racing, Colin Jillings, and partner Richard Yuill.
For all his major successes over more than half a century, Jillings has never had sufficient horse numbers nor collective fire power to lead a trainers' premiership.
This season - with Yuill's dependable assistance - he has.
As at yesterday the Jillings-Yuill stable at Takanini had produced 44 winners for 2000-2001 for an exceptional strike rate of 4.5 and stake earnings of $739,688.
That had them three winners clear of the Keith Hawtin-Graeme Rogerson stable at Tuhikaramea and four ahead of Paul O'Sullivan of Matamata.
But winning group one races is what the profession is all about.
And, for Jillings and Yuill, the task of producing Flying Babe fully fit for the $120,000 Ford-sponsored 1400m has been far from a formality.
Indeed, it has called on all the experience and expertise they possess.
Flying Babe's 2-year-old season could have been cut short two months ago when she came down with a virus.
Over that, she came back hale and hearty last Saturday to land her seventh win from nine races by two and a half lengths in the Ashwell Farm Foal Stakes at Ellerslie.
Some would regard it as pressure cooking to have Flying Babe backing up again tomorrow over 1400m so soon after an enforced break.
"Yes and no" was Yuill's answer yesterday when quizzed about the backing up.
The 10 days of work she missed because of the virus was only a hiccup, he insisted, not as though she had been let down in condition and spelled.
"All through she was kept in a stable environment and ticking over," he said, " so it was not really surprising when she won so well last Saturday and came through the race unharmed.
"All she has needed this week has been some trotting and cantering and just the one gallop [yesterday] on the bit."
Flying Babe was not only fast but also hardy and professional, Yuill said.
Few other 2-year-old fillies could have overcome the near-fatal temperatures she returned in February in the short time she took to recover.
Therefore there would no excuses if she failed tomorrow against Vinaka and San Luis, whom she already has beaten.
Vinaka came to the fore in Flying Babe's absence last month to win the Wakefield Challenge Stakes at Trentham.
Then followed the controversial group-one Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, in which Vinaka again finished first only to be relegated to second behind San Luis because of interference.
Expectations are that it will be a battle of honour between Vinaka and San Luis tomorrow, compounded by Flying Babe's presence.
Race tactics will also play a major role.
Flying Babe could lead all the way, but from No 8 barrier stall she may be better off taking a trail, as Lance O'Sullivan did so admirably on her last Saturday.
Vinaka, from No 9, could sit on the Babe's quarters.
Not so clear cut is how Noel Harris will ride San Luis, who needs to go forward from No 1 to avoid becoming boxed on the rails, yet not that far forward as to become a sitting duck.
"We'll leave it to Lance to decide what's best for Flying Babe," Yuill said.
"He's had six rides on her for six wins."
Racing: Victory in Sires icing on cake
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