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Soubrettes has been flying under the radar for the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph at Trentham on Saturday.
The South Island sprinter started a $3.30 favourite for the 2015 Telegraph, at just her sixth start, following a sizzling win in the Stewards Stakes at Riccarton.
She finished a creditable fifth last year, after racing greenly, and did not race again until last spring.The five-year-old had a win and a second in her first two starts this term, but wilted to seventh in the Stewards, after starting a $2.30 favourite. She has not raced since and was at $13 in the Telegraph market his week.
However, trainer Mandy Brown is confident that Soubrettes is better equipped for the Telegraph this year, both mentally and physically, and is hoping that the addition of blinkers will make a difference.Brown, who trains the mare in partnership with her husband, Matt, had been thinking about blinkers for her stable star since last year’s Telegraph and the mare’s Stewards run convinced her that the time was right.
“She seems very settled with blinkers on and David [rider David Walsh] galloped her with them on and he was happy,” Brown said. “It has given me more confidence in her.“I always thought running her in the Telegraph last year was a big ask and was worried about her coping mentally.
“Her form might not look as strong this time but I do think she’s a lot better. She looks great, is mentally tougher and physically stronger.“Things didn’t go her way in the Stewards and she didn’t disgrace herself. She probably jumped too well and ended up in front. The other horse [Shelford] was at her the whole way and she over-raced.
“It would be nice to see her back with a bit of cover on the outer on Saturday,” Brown said. “That’s when she has shown a real turn of foot. When she gets a bit of cover she can let down.“I know she’s capable of winning a Group One and she does try very hard but you need a lot of luck in the running at this level.
“She’s very slight and we have taken the soft approach with her for three seasons but she has to step up now.”