A wet track for Miss Sara is what trainer Les Ross is hoping for when his filly backs up in Saturday’s Group 1 $600,000 J.J. Atkins Plate (1600m) at Doomben.

The Autumn Sun, above, is the favourite for the 2018 J.J. Atkins Plate at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Autumn Sun, above, is the favourite for the 2018 J.J. Atkins Plate at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.

Miss Sara’s only win from eleven starts was on a rain affected track at Doomben and Ross said that the Mahisara filly will have no concern’s is running week to week after finishing fourth in the Listed $100,000 Bracken Ridge Tavern The Phoenix 2yo (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast last Saturday.

“Give us a bit of rain on Saturday and we will give them something to think about,” Ross told The Courier-Mail.

The Doomben track has been rated a Good 4 early in the week but the Bureau Of Meteorology has forecast showers for Brisbane in the lead up to the weekend.

Ross said that Miss Sara wasn’t at her best last Saturday after getting stirred up before the race when she had to get re-shod before going out onto the track after shifting a plate and then didn’t have the best of runs during the race and he is hoping for better luck this week.

“She was late onto the track and that got her stirred up a bit. She went a bit hard in the middle stages and then got caught in the wrong part of the track,” Ross said.

“On that run we only have to find a 1½ lengths to be in the finish on Saturday.”

“She is tough and I know she can run the 1600m strongly which is more than you can say for a few others.”

Miss Sara has been listed as one of the outsiders for the J.J. Atkins Plate at $61 with Ladbrokes.com.au who has the Chris Waller trained The Autumn Sun as the $2.40 favourite ahead of his stablemates Lean Mean Machine at $4.20 and Zousain at $6.

Early betting for the 2018 J.J. Atkins Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.40 The Autumn Sun, $4.20 Lean Mean Machine, $6 Zousain, $7.50 Sesar, $8.50 Fundamentalist, $13 Sizzling Ace, $17 Boomsara, $26 Plumaro, $34 Home Ground, $41 A Man To Match, Grim Reaper, Home Made, Yamazaki, $61 Miss Sara, Sokudo, $101 Champagne Garden, Peppi Le Few, Ultimate Ring.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.