Alaskan Wolf could have her final provincial race start on Thursday at Gosford Racing Club if she can win the TAB.com.au Benchmark 65 Handicap (1000m) for trainer Norman Rogers.
The God’s Own filly has returned to top form this preparation after a virus caused her to race poorly during her last campaign and Rogers is keen to try her out in midweek city company if she can put a small field away on Thursday.
“She’s going up the ladder nice and slowly,” Rogers said. “Her work is nice and she’s very happy within herself. She has to have a go in the city if she goes well at Gosford.
“When I know my horses are feeling good I’m always confident so I believe she’ll give a good account of herself.”
After winning well first-up, Alaskan Wolf should have won easily last start at Taree but was caught on the rail and couldn’t get clear running until the final 150 metres.
She flew home and in the closing stages peeled a number of lengths off the eventual winner Nick On The Run only to lose in a photo-finish.
“Unlucky is not the word,” Rogers said. “She shouldn’t have been in that position, in a pocket as the favourite. She’s done everything right since, has drawn a good gate and Josh Parr is riding her so I’m happy.”
This time, from gate one, Rogers said Parr would have plenty of options with the versatile runner.
“I’ll leave it up to Josh. He grew up on Gosford Racetrack and is very hungry to get back in the winners’ circle,” he said. “She can do it from anywhere. She’s led all the way and come from well back to win.”
Rogers was keen to start the speedy juvenile in the three-year-old fillies race at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, such is his opinion of her.
“She wouldn’t have got a run but I know she’ll win in town as long as she keeps going the way she has,” he said.
The first of eight races at Gosford on Thursday jumps at 12.05pm.
