She fits the criteria of a Country Championships horse but four-year-old Elm Court will be tested in a competitive Federal Handicap before trainer Matthew Dale charts her course.
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The lightly-raced mare, who has won three of seven starts, resumes her preparation at Thoroughbred Park on Friday, with the Country Championships qualifiers just weeks away.
The 1200 metre race will be her first start in more than two months due to abandoned meetings, but had a timely trial at the venue in December.
"I was really happy with her last trial." Dale said.
"She was supposed to resume in Moruya but that was abandoned and then she was balloted out of a Highway so there's a bit bigger gap between her trial and this first-up start than I would have hoped."
The South East region's qualifier for the $1.6 million Country Championships will be held in Nowra on February 16. There are high hopes for Elm Court if she can perform in the Federal.
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"She fits the criteria [for the Country Championships]," Dale said.
"She's lightly raced, but we'll get through Friday and see how she goes."
Canberra Horse of the Year Prince Jacko will also return to Thoroughbred Park on Friday from a six month spell, but has earned the top weight of 61kg for the Federal race.
The Keith Dryden-trained gelding missed the podium just once in his final eight starts last season but will have to overcome the heavier weight and tough line up to continue his rich vein of form.
Dryden has nominated Eve's Miss and Perfect Pitch in the Benchmark 65 (1000 metres), while Your Knuckleship will compete in the Class 1 Handicap (1000 metres).
The seven-year-old gelding ran second at big odds in his first race in nearly 14 months in a good quality Benchmark 60 in December, with the same jockey Blake McDougall.
Friday's meet will also see the return of jockey Kayla Nisbet to Thoroughbred Park. The 25-year-old has come back from a foot surgery and will ride Neil Osborne's Canberra Tram in race four.
SCORSE'S SAUCE
Friday's Canberra Racing Club tips with John Scorse
Best bet: Race 2, No.5 Heavenly Glory: Resumed for new stable with very solid effort she will take good improvement and finds the right race here.
Best roughie: Race 6, No.4 Satirical Knight: Raced keenly with blinkers first time and up in trip, will be fitter and ready to win.
Race 1: 1st: 9 Superbellaa: Showed heaps of speed in recent trial win at rosehill beating slipper chance muntaseera has inside gate so should take running down. 2nd: 6 Ashra Jahre: Has race experience and good gatespeed, will be prominent till late. 3rd: 4 Strike Mission: Given an easy time in only trial, what he has to offer when asked is anybody's guess, watch market. 4th: 3 I Am Bolt: Hastrialled three times , latest was placed behind recent impressive cellsabeel, very slow time but has blinkers on for race day.
Race 2: 1st: 5 Heavenly Glory: Solid effort first up at Kembla off one trial only so should be fitter for first try this distance, looks the one to beat. 2nd: 3 Power Lift: Should be at his peak now after three provincial runs. 3rd: 8 Monterey Magic: Light weight and will go forward he is a knockout chance at his pet distance. 4th: 7 Supreme Lad: Next best.
Race 3: 1st: 4 Sassy Annie: Showed speed and fought on very well on debut at wagga behind fit in form rosebank that could be good enough here with natural improvement. 2nd: 1 Encumbrance: Placed three of five and well drawn for first up here, should get the favours throughout. 3rd: 10 Rocquette: Fair effort when placed first up,exotics chance only. 4th: 11 Opposite: Next best.
Race 4: 1st: 5 Pahang: Just behind the placegetters in three runs in his first preparation all strong races for a country maiden, stable is in great form and looks the one to beat. 2nd: 4 First Crown: Close up in most runs last time in ay provincial grade, he looks the main danger. 3rd: 12 Wandonna: Set to peak thirdrun this time in and looks to do no work from inside gate. 4th: 9 Uprise: Chased hard when placed here first up , some chance if he doesn't work too hard from the outside.
Race 5: 1st: 4 Your Knuckleship: He has come back this time in great form,only has to repeat first up run to win this, hoping he is sharp enough. 2nd: 7 Luxurial: Hampered by wide gates in both runs this preparation, better drawn and will be there all the way. 3rd: 1 Nostre Re: Lightly raced and showed good promise last time, looks ready first up on recent trial win; watch market.
Race 6: 1st: 4 Satirical Knight: Set to peak here at second run this trip this prep, solid when placed last time and will take some beating here. 2nd: 11 Lord Tropicana: Jumps straight to the 2000 at third run in but racing like he wants it. 3rd: 2 Little Arnie: Got the favours when all the way winner here two back, exotics chance. 4th: 1 Havaduel: Consistent and stays strongly.
Race 7: 1st: 7 Elm Court: Smart mare resuming here, good fresh and loves this distance, good chance in very open race. 2nd: 1 Prince Jacko: Horse of the year last season he resumes here and has definitely earned the topweight, strong claims. 3rd: 12 Mookareena: Tough mare resuming here and has won twice first up, ideally drawn and commands respect here. 4th: 11 Flora Bel: Has claims.
Race 8: 1st: 8 Affinity Beyond: Speedymiss who is shooting for the hattrick , super impressive in last two wins in fast time well drawn and hard to run down. 2nd: 6 Major Time: Racing in top form and will follow the fav throughout he is the danger or quinella horse here. 3rd: 1 Eve's Miss: Consistent and never far away. 4th: 7 Acton Shale: Next best.