Trainer Roger James has revealed that the racing future of talented filly Katie’s Cove will be decided after she runs in the 2014 Hawkesbury Guineas at the standalone Hawkesbury meeting on Saturday.

Roger James believes that Katie's Cove deserves an opportunity at Group level in the 2014 Hawkesbury Guineas. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Katie’s Cove made her racing debut in October of last year and performed well without winning in her first three starts, but has found winning form this preparation; scoring a three lengths win in the Marks Ewen and Associates Maiden (1200m) at Matamata on April 2 before winning by four lengths in the Battersby Funerals Handicap (1400m) at Avondale on April 25.

James told New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing that he has been pleased with the progress of Katie’s Cove and will decide whether she will get another opportunity at Group level after she runs in the 2014 Hawkesbury Guineas this weekend.

“She deserves the opportunity,” James said.

“If she can measure up on Saturday, there’s the Scone Guineas in a couple of weeks that is worth $400,000 or else she could go to Queensland for the Doomben Roses the same day of a shorter three-year-old race at Doomben.

“If she doesn’t measure up, she can come home on Monday; it’s up to her really to determine her future.”

James originally planned to have a large team of runners heading to the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, but sent Lady Cumquat, Delago’s Secret and Full Count to the spelling paddock rather than include them in the nominations for the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) and Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) that were released yesterday.

“You win Derbys with horses in absolute peak form; they’ve got to be at the top of their game over there and it’s hard late in the season,” James said.

“I’ve done it successfully before but Delago’s Secret and Full Count both had pretty hard runs on Saturday and they’ve felt their runs.

“I had a look at them this week and thought it would be asking too much of them.”

“If you treat those potential stayers with patience they will be there for you as four and five-year-olds.”

Katie’s Cove has been included in the nominations for both the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on May 31 and the Queensland Derby at the same venue a week later and is currently available at 2014 Hawkesbury Guineas odds of $8.