Racing
Mares’ company to suit Aviatress
Aviatress will appreciate getting back to mares’ company when she lines up at Caulfield.
Aviatress has been a mainstay of the sprint races in Melbourne over summer and will get another chance to add to her record when she reverts to mares' company at Caulfield.
A flag-bearer for South Australian trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly's Flemington stable, Aviatress is likely to be given a freshen up following the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
After opening her campaign in Adelaide in September, Aviatress has been based at Flemington since early November and has had four runs for the Jolly team in Melbourne this time around.
Victory in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on November 29 was followed by a third in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on Boxing Day ahead of her fourth-place finish in the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on January 10.
Those three performances were all in open company while Aviatress drops to mares' grade on Saturday and comes down in weight from her past two performances under the set-weights and penalties conditions.
Richard Jolly said the stable was a little disappointed with the performance of Aviatress at Flemington last time but noted Hedged finished second-last in the contest before going on to win the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham last Friday night.
"Last start we were a little disappointed with the run she had and was a bit soft late," Jolly said.
"But she ran fourth, not that far away, and if you look at Hedged, he looked to go pretty ordinary and he came out and won that race at Pakenham the other day, so that makes you feel a bit better about the run."
Jolly is hoping the weather may be a little kinder for Aviatress on Saturday with the chance – albeit only 25% - of a shower on Saturday.
Aviatress was successful on a Soft 6 track three starts back while last time out at Flemington the track was upgraded to a Good 3 during the day.
"We've been getting Good 3's at the moment and the track was pretty firm at Flemington the other day," Jolly said.
"We just feel she's a bit better if there's a bit of sting out rather than the firm track she copped the other day.
"She's stayed in our Flemington stable the whole way through as otherwise we would have been going backwards and forwards a bit.
"It makes it easier and the horses can settle in there.
"Flemington has certainly been an advantage for the better horses that we've got."
Harry Coffey will ride Aviatress for the first time on Saturday replacing the injured Mark Zahra, while Craig Williams, who rode the mare to victory at Caulfield in November is booked to partner Damask Rose.
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