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The addition of blinkers should provide the extra spark required for Amo La Nonna to claim her first career victory in the Winning Edge Presentations Plate (1600m) at Werribee today.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Amo La Nonna has finished runner up at each of her four starts this campaign with the latest a second at Bendigo over this distance.
Sent out as the odds on favourite, the Show A Heart filly hit the front at the top of the straight and looked destined to claim a maiden success however was collared in the final strides by Sacred Dream.
It was then a whopping seven lengths back to third.
One of her better runs this campaign came second up when the bridesmaid once again at this track over 1425m.
Amo La Nonna's effort on that occasion yielded a Timeform figure of 71, something a majority of the rivals she faces here have yet to achieve.
The Mick Price-trained three-year-old after settling midfield made good ground upon straightening and only just missed out on successfully chasing down the winner Darlimurla Star.
Giving Amo La Nonna's form this preparation more credit is the subsequent rise through the grades of Darlimurla Star.
Mick Kent's filly has gone on to record another three wins with her latest a midweek city success at Sandown over a mile 11 days ago.
Amo La Nonna possesses a peak Timeform figure of 77 achieved at the end of last campaign, her best rated effort so far this preparation on resuming was assessed at 73.
A case could be made for Amo La Nonna's form having waned slightly in her past couple of starts however three weeks between runs with blinkers going on for the first time should see the filly return to peak form.
Another in the field with an important gear change is Vivacious Miss who looms as the main danger to the likely favourite.
Trainer John Mcardle has elected to put winkers on the Fastnet Rock filly who unsuccessfully tried to make all when a 3.5 length fifth at Echuca last start.
Vivacious Miss was runner up at this track two back and expect she will put in a bold showing up front today.
Anything like the 74 she ran up to when third on resuming at Mornington could even have favourite punters reeling if Amo La Nonna is slightly off her game.
Suspect the fairer sex can dominate this affair however the likes of King Kaiyo and King Of The Gods can keep them honest if either of them are at their best.