Co-trainer Mick Price has always felt Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man) had a good race in her and has set the mare to win a Group One in Brisbane first-up.
The Gr.1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday is the assignment Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr have been eyeing off since Annavisto ran second to Nimalee (So You Think) on a heavy track at Randwick back in April.
Price said the 1400m was the ideal journey for Annavisto who performs well fresh and will have the services of jockey Rachel King.
Annavisto needed time, according to Price, to reach top level despite winning six of her 15 starts.
“I knew she would be a horse that we’d have to make a bit,” Price said.
“She was a very stressy young horse. She’s by Reliable Man but out of a Tavistock mare and she blows off all this nervous energy.
“That breed, if you don’t stress them, they eventually come good. She’s got that spark in her which a lot of good horses have, and I always thought she was going to improve.
“I’m a little bit optimistic that she can win a Group One.”
Price said Saturday’s race came up at the right time, a Group One for fillies and mares over Annavisto’s pet distance of 1400m.
He said he didn’t need to run Annavisto in the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap over the same course and distance two weeks ago with this race on the horizon.
And Price added King was an ideal choice after partnering the mare in Sydney at her last start.
“She always goes well fresh over 1400 (metres) and it’s a Group One, so I didn’t need to run her in the Stradbroke,” Price said.
“She has trialled up well and I think she’ll turn up spot on and that girl, she’s a good rider on those forward types of horse.
“I think she’ll be in the finish somewhere.”