By Ray Hickson
Trainer Todd Howlett brings his handy mare Miss Kojiki back to the scene of one of her toughest wins and looks for a repeat result in the AMWU National Handicap (1100m) at Hawkesbury on Sunday.
The five-year-old is racing in career-best form with three wins from her last four starts but she had to call on all her fight to stave off the challengers in a fillies and mares event at the same track back on September 22.
Expect the wet track specialists to thrive at Hawkesbury on Sunday.
She steps out against the boys this time around but after her last start win Howlett said on Sky Thoroughbred Central the mare’s heart always takes her a long way.
“She’s an honest little mare, she always tries,” Howlett said.
“She was stepping up in grade so I wouldn’t say I was confident but I knew she would run well. She’s getting up in the weights now but she tries her heart out.”
Apprentice Ellen Hennessy was on board last start, taking 2kg off Miss Kojiki’s back so she carried 58.5kg. Another apprentice Madeline Owen rides today and the mare will carry 58kg after her 3kg claim.
Miss Kojiki is an on-pacer and from barrier one she should find herself in or near the lead, which will take her a long way to repeating her last start win.
There’ll be no wet track concerns for the lightly raced Token Capitalist after he finished a game second at Newcastle on heavy ground and in just his second start.
Annabel Neasham trains the three-year-old who scored an upset win at $31 on debut at Hawkesbury early in September but the fact he was able to repeat the effort says there was no fluke about it.
Alysha Collett rides the gelding and from a favourable barrier is expected to place him on the speed as he’s been in both starts.
Token Capitalist will have plenty of competition in the race with a number of promising types engaged including the Godolphin rep Badge, who impressed winning at his second start at Goulburn, and last-start winner Superargo.
Badge hasn’t seen a heavy track in his two starts but being by Sebring is a good head start in that department and he did hold a clear margin on his rivals at Goulburn.
Best bets: Race 4 (5) Token Capitalist;
Race 6 (1) So Good So Cool
