By Jonny Turner
The silver lining for star filly Captains Mistress is that the timing could be right for her, now.
The three-year-old is part of a three-horse Southland attack that Nathan Williamson is preparing for the upcoming Auckland carnival.
Hidden Talent and Ruby Roe will also head north and attempt to put Alexandra Park Group 1 titles next to their names, just like their stablemate already has.
Spring setbacks meant Captains Mistress went into her last start in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks with just one conditioning run.
Though she raced incredibly well to finish fourth, those setbacks looked to cost her when she faded in the last 100m behind Arafura.
“We were chasing our tails the whole way through to get her there and under the circumstances she went very well.”
“I have got her home and she’s really well, she just needs a bit of racing so we are going to go up north for a crack at the Queen Of Hearts.”
“She thrived on the trip up there last year and hopefully she can show that sort of form again.”
Many of Captains Mistress’ Queen Of Hearts rivals will start in this week’s Group 3 Caduceus Club Northern Breeders Stakes.
Williamson has opted to forgo a lead-up race with Captains Mistress.
If her preparation continues to go much more smoothly than her last Group One tilt, the timing could be perfect for Captains Mistress to strike third up in the Queen Of Hearts (December 12) .
Ruby Roe will also target the feature event, as she heads north after running to placings in Group and Listed races in her last three starts.
“She’s raced well right the way through and apart from Ashburton she’s done it from some tricky draws.”
“I have been quite happy with her since Cup Week, she is heading up there in good form.”
Hidden Talent will take a mixture of form north, including a last-start fifth in the Group 2 Grand Duchess at Addington.
Williamson is hoping one key difference will help the mare show her best in the Group 1 Queen Of Diamonds (Dec 12).
“In the mares races she has been off the back mark each time, whereas she will be off level marks behind the mobile this time.”
“She has given I Dream Of Jeannie a head start in her two mares races and Princess Sadie a 30m head start in hers.”
“She seems really well and if she’s on her game up there, it looks a good opportunity for her.”
Hidden Talent will have her first start at Alexandra Park in the second running of the Queen Of Diamonds.