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If there’s a query over smart mare Fituese running out a strong 1200m trainer John Thompson says he doesn’t have one and hopes she can prove him right at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
And a win in the Group 2 $200,000 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) would open up the possibility of pressing for a spot in next month's inaugural $2m The Invitation (1400m).
Fituese, an impressive first-up winner of the Toy Show over 1100m (her fourth win at that trip), has only been to six furlongs twice and struck a heavy track in her latest attempt in May last year and was run down by Esperance at Rosehill.
"I have no doubt about it, it's not going to be an issue,'' Thompson said of the 1200m.
"It's just a matter of time before that happens. She ran out a strong 1100m the other day and covered ground doing it. As long as she gets on a somewhat dry surface she'll be right.
"I think she will get further myself."
The five-year-old, $6 with TAB on Wednesday, overcame a wide barrier to win the Toy Show first-up three weeks ago and she clocked the meeting's second fastest last 600m (32.78, Punter's Intelligence) in doing it.
Thompson said everything about that win was outstanding, from the horse's performance to the ride by Jean Van Overmeire who was called up at the last minute to replace Rachel King following a fall.
"We had a rider jumping on that'd never been on before and he got a three second rundown,'' he said.
"I just told him what Rachel's plan was and he did a fantastic job, he rode her to the letter of what Rachel had planned to do. The horse was good enough to overcome the wide draw and wide run and win."
King has galloped Fituese twice this week, on Saturday and Tuesday, and left Thompson in no doubt about how well the mare is feeling at the moment.
"She said when she jumped off the horse's confidence is just so high she's in the zone,'' he said.
"All my horses improve with racing, that's a guarantee. She's just in great order. Mares seem to be in form or out of form and when they are in form they seem to hold it."
The Randwick trainer has Sweet Deal aiming at The Invitation and Fituese could give him a solid presence if she shows she can handle the extra distance.
Sweet Deal trials on Friday and will then be served by Zoustar before returning to Thompson's stable for her final campaign culminating in the new fillies and mares feature on October 23.
Chat will be out to shrug off a below par effort in the Show County when he takes on a similar field in the Group 2 $200,000 Chandon Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).
The gelding finished seventh behind Private Eye three weeks ago but Thompson said there were excuses and is confident he can return to the form that saw him win first-up and finish a narrow second in the Group 2 Missile Stakes.
"He didn't stretch out last time, he's a big heavy horse with white feet and the track was quite firm that day,'' he said.
"We gave him a freshen up on the water walker for a week and he's come back ready to rip again. He's such an honest horse."
He started $4.80 in the Show County but was $19 with TAB on Wednesday in the Theo Marks.
And Dunbrody Power is back in her comfort zone in the Quayclean Handicap (1200m), she was a dual acceptor in the Sheraco, and Thompson said with good fortune she can put herself in the finish.
"She hasn't had much luck of late, the 1000m was too short the other day and I can see her bouncing back,'' he said.
