What Joiselle lacks in size she’s more than making up for in ability and trainer Brett Cavanough is prepared to test that ability as her unbeaten record goes on the line at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Brett Cavanough. (Pic: Steve Hart).
Cavanough is a bit reluctant to suggest she is a contender for this year’s $2 million country feature on TAB Everest Day before she runs in the TAB Handicap (1100m) but that could be different if the filly makes it four from four.
The 2020 Kosicuszko winning trainer said if Joiselle is good enough to catch someone’s eye she’ll do the talking for herself.
“I’m a bit scared to talk Kosciuszko,’’ he said.
“I think unless you’re like Matty Dale’s horse (Front Page) who picks himself you’ve just got to train your horses.
“If you start setting a horse for that race and you don’t get picked you get a bit disappointed. If you have them in winning form they highlight themselves.
“If she wins four straight and wins that race on Saturday someone’s got to look at her.”
Interestingly, the corresponding race last year was won by Mogo Magic who went on to take his place in the Kosciuszko.
Joiselle, $10 with TAB on Thursday, moved onto the $26 line in TAB’s all-in Kosciuszko market with her dominant 3-3/4 length first-up win at Scone two weeks ago.
That was a Class 3 and she made light work of her opposition, which included last week’s Highway runner-up Consenza, and while she’s jumping in the deep end at Randwick the light weight of 54.5kg appeals to Cavanough.
Zac Lloyd was originally booked for the ride but when the champion apprentice was suspended last week he had no hesitation in calling on Winona Costin.
“Ideally I’d like to wipe the Class 3 out in the bush but she would be carrying up the top,’’ he said.
“I thought we’d take the opportunity of riding her down in the weights.
“She’s pint sized which is going to catch up with her eventually. She’s a little horse with a big walk. She has a long barrel and that’s what sticks with her.
“Obviously we’re up in class, she can’t afford to get a bump or anything because she’s so slight.”
Cavanough said if the race pans out in Joiselle’s favour from a favourable draw, with the prospect of genuine speed up front, he has no doubt she has the turn of foot to be effective.
“It’s a good race, it’s a real test for her,’’ he said.
“She gets a good look at them, hopefully we can nurse her through the gears.
“She was wound up for her first-up run, she’d had a trial and a mile of work, so I won’t have any excuses on that front.
“If we get a half decent run in the race we’ll see how good she is.”
The Scone trainer takes two unbeaten fillies to Randwick with Pride To Follow contesting the Ranvet Handicap (1100m) after wins at Scone and Muswellbrook.
In the latest she outpointed Bullfighter, who is among the opposition again on Saturday, and is 1kg better off yet is twice the price of the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott youngster.
Cavanough is under no illusions, though, that late season two-year-old races can have more depth than it appears on paper.
“She’s done nothing wrong, she keeps delivering,’’ he said.
“The race is strong, this time of year the late maturing types are turning up. There could be anything amongst them.”
– Racing NSW
