Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde is not concerned by the statistics that say his mare Sirileo Miss struggles to run 2000m.
Sirileo Miss lines up for her third attempt at 2000m in the Listed Ballarat Cup on Saturday having finished fifth at her previous two assignments.
As a three-year-old she led and pulled hard in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville then most recently she again led in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Wilde said he had done a ‘speed gene test’ on Sirileo Miss which suggested the 2000m would be the mare’s optimum journey.
“The problem we had with her early in her career was that she was quite a hot filly, and she overdid it in a lot of her races,” Wilde told RSN.
“We’ve got a crossover noseband on her, and it seems to have done the trick and she is settling as well as she ever has.
“Hopefully this preparation we can get a few goes at that distance and hopefully with her settling better, get a result.”
While five of Sirileo Miss’ seven wins to date have come on good tracks, Wilde said he would not mind a little more rain ahead of Saturday’s assignment.
Rain is forecast for late in the day on Saturday while the track was rated a Heavy 8 at acceptance time on Saturday.
“She can handle all conditions, but I think on a heavy track it might slow a few of the others down,” Wilde said.
“She’s got good form on a lot of tracks.
“It was a good win at Caulfield on soft going, so I’m hoping it probably rains and as it’s her second go at 2000 metres this preparation she should run a lot better than she did at the Spring Carnival over 2000.
“It looks like a strong Ballarat Cup, but I think if she gets a nice run and we get a little bit of rain, we’ll be a good chance.”