The successful combination of trainer Gerald Ryan and jockey Brenton Avdulla can team for another success at Canterbury today.
The pair will combine with Mineko in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap over 1200m.
The Benchmark 75 race for fillies and mares looks made to order for the three-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock.
A veteran of just seven race appearances, Mineko returned from a 186 day break with an unlucky second in a similar race over 1100m a fortnight ago.
Mineko sat back in the field on that occasion before unleashing a powerful finish, missing narrowly after being inconvenienced by another runner at a vital stage.
The three-year-old won’t lack anything on the score of fitness either as Ryan had given the filly two barrier trials in preparation for her return to the racetrack.
The return performance afforded Mineko a new weight adjusted Timeform figure of 84 for her effort with the promise of more to come.
While only the winner of a two-year-old maiden at Warwick Farm, Mineko does have a Listed race placing under her belt.
And Ryan thought highly enough of the filly to throw her in at the deep-end when opening her previous campaign by taking her to Melbourne to contest the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes at 1200m at Caulfield last October.
The filly didn’t produce her best during that campaign, but she looks back to her top judging on her first-up performance and is expected to be mighty hard to beat today.
Lesley’s Choice, a new member of the David Vandyke stable, is resuming from a spell and looks the main stumbling block for Mineko.
She was formerly prepared by Gai Waterhouse and the Vandyke stable is having a purple patch of form of late.
Lesley’s Choice, a daughter of Exceed And Excel, is resuming from a 257 day break but the three-year-old has had a Randwick barrier trial over 740m, finishing fourth behind Miss Promiscuity.
To be ridden by Blake Shinn, Lesley’s Choice will be able to track Mineko in the run as the pair has drawn alongside each other.
The Chris Waller trained Britaila Kate could have a race fitness edge on the other two fillies and is going to be a tough nut to crack.
The five-year-old, a daughter of Jet Spur, is having her fourth run back following a spell which has resulted in two minor placings.
At her last start, over this course and distance a fortnight ago, Britaila Kate finished a narrow second behind Ball Of Muscle.
She has drawn off the track, outside of both Mineko and Lesley’s Choice, but Jason Collett should be able to roll forward and take up a handy position and be tough to hold out at the finish.
Good luck and good punting.
