Four-year-old mare Vee Cece will again be looking to overcome a wide draw when she jumps from barrier ten in tomorrow’s Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Tauherenikau (1600m). The weight-for-age affair is Race 7 on the card (1:55pm AEDT, 3:55pm local time).
Lisa Allpress has been given the task after Craig Grylls came from last with a barnstorming run to finish over the top of all rivals first up at Tauranga, in what was Vee Cece’ debut for OTI.
That effort, off some 272 days, defied the pattern of the day and was incredibly encouraging for a mare who will continue to improve the deeper she goes into her preparation. Although her best is likely to be seen at 2000m, trainers Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman have kept Vee Cece fresh with this race in mind from the moment she saluted three weeks ago.
Vee Cece has thrived in her work leading up to the valuable black type contest, pleasing Forsman with all that’s been asked since the January 17 success. “She’s worked up a treat and couldn’t be better heading in to the race” has been the report from their Cambridge base.
Whilst the camp is under no illusions that the task in front of Vee Cece will be noticeably more difficult given the weight-for-age condition of the race and quality of her opposition, all remain confident that she is ready to run to her best and prove up to the grade.
