Defending her Gr.2 Travis Stakes crown has long been the goal for Lauren Tate, says Taupiri breeder-owner-trainer John Morell.
And she couldn't be in any better condition going into the race, according to the Pins five-year-old mare's biggest fan.
"She galloped well on Tuesday with Stolen Dance and went well again today," Morell said after Lauren Tate's hit out at Te Rapa on Thursday morning.
"Stolen Dance had the edge on her the last time they galloped together but this time it was more even, if not our mare having the slight edge on her.
"This race has been her main target all the way through. She's got a good draw [barrier three] and the 2000m is her pet distance. People tend to under-estimate her a bit. She's a very good horse and I think people don't realise just how good she is."
A winner of four of her 23 starts, Lauren Tate's best win was her narrow defeat of Gwynethanne and Skysoblue in last year's Travis Stakes (2000m), though she raced well in Brisbane last winter, finishing fourth in both the Gr.3 Chairman's Handicap and Listed Tatt's Mile and second in the Listed Rockhampton Cup.
Lauren Tate is poised to be promoted to winning the Rockhampton Cup, with the winner since found to have returned a positive swab to a banned substance.
Her last start seventh in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha was a far better effort than it reads on paper, having suffered significant interference early in the race, clipping heels and losing several lengths and a favourable position in running, before finishing strongly late down the outside.
"Mickey [Michael Coleman, jockey] was probably going somewhere he shouldn't have and he came back and apologised afterwards and said he got it wrong," Morell said.
"The gap just shut on her and she got spat out. She cut her leg and there was a fair bit of swelling. She spent a week at Raglan and she's had it bandaged since. She worked in a bandage on Tuesday, but it's perfect now.
"She's very well. She's tightened up and looks good. She's eating well and I reckon this is her chance to show just how good she is. Pondarosa Miss and Atacama are in there and that might make it interesting but with Girl Of My Dreams and Celebrity Miss, it looks like it should be run at a good pace.
"She'll settle handy, probably about fourth or fifth and get her chance from there."
Morell has ruled out a Brisbane campaign for Lauren Tate and while he is considering a tilt at next month's Gr.3 Rotorua Cup (2200m), his preference is to turn her out for a five-week break with an eye to targeting the Gr.1 Spring Classic (2040m) at Hastings in October.
