3 minute read

It's the comeback we’ve all been waiting for and trainer Brett Cavanough admits to some nerves about the return of unbeaten mare It’s Me at Randwick on Saturday.

The 2020 Kosciuszko champ steps out for the first time since that victory in the Group 3 $160,000 Robrick Lodge Triscay Stakes (1200m) and Cavanough said she will present as a fit horse and is just hopeful the surface is an even one.

He hasn't ruled out scratching the five-year-old if too much rain arrives and he feels the track is going to be choppy by race nine.

"It's the second last race, the track will cut up, you just want ideal circumstances for any decent horse,'' he said.

"Inwardly I'm a bit nervous, I just don't want her to get beaten. Should I be at 1100m, should I be at 1000m, should I be at 1400m? There's so many questions to answer.

"As long as I'm happy with her, which I am, that's all I've got to worry about. I'm confident I'm taking a fit horse to the races."

It's Me was originally going to be set for a Kosciuszko defence, or a spring campaign, last year but after an exhibition gallop on her home track at Scone it was decided to give her more time.

And given the experience Cavanough had with her when she suffered her first tendon injury he has no doubt it was the right thing to do.

"We replicated what she did when she popped a tendon as a two-year-old,'' he said.

"I bought her back, gave her a couple of gallops, and turned her out and bought her back again and she won four straight."

Given the potential she showed in winning the richest country race in the world on one preparation, It's Me has been kept safe at $4.40 with TAB on Thursday to extend her unbeaten run at her first attempt in Group company.

To Cavanough's eye she's the same horse at home so he can only hope she's the same on race day.

"She just eats and does her work, she's just a really good galloper,'' he said.

"There's no fuss about her, she's been away and been rehabilitated, she hasn't had a lame day. She's a bonny little mare to train, she's as tough as nails.

"Whatever she does she's unflappable. And her gallops are like that, obviously she's a bit better than most of the horses we've got. She just marches alongside them and gets the job done."

Jason Collett reacquaints with It's Me in the Triscay after Ashley Morgan put her through her paces to win a 900m trial at Scone on January 28.

Cavanough said the only reason she trialled was on the stewards' request and she didn't need it to prove anything to him.

While all eyes are on It's Me, Cavanough is hoping Patino Ruby can steal some black type in the coming weeks and wouldn't be shocked if she snuck into a placing at odds in the Triscay.

The four-year-old was a Rosehill winner in June and resumed with a closing fourth behind Sky Command at Canterbury on January 28.

"The second horse in that race (Able Willie) there's a big rap on him and the winner came out and ran a creditable race last week so the form stacks up for her,'' he said.

"Can she take the next step, we'll give her that opportunity. You pick the paper and there'll be a 40/1 shot run a place in a metropolitan race somewhere so just give her the opportunity.

"If it rains it works in her favour because she can get through it. She's a nice mare. It's pretty handy to have two like them to go to the races, win lose or draw they've done a good job."

Patino Ruby, who contested The Kosciuszko last year finishing 11th, was $101 with TAB on Thursday.