She’s one of three Group 1 winners engaged in the race with trainer Gerald Ryan hoping Saturday’s Missile Stakes 2013 can see the return to form of Mrs Onassis.
Mrs Onassis needs a firm track to run her best in the 2013 Missile Stakes this weekend. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli.
A six-year-old daughter of General Nediym, Mrs Onassis hit the big time back in February first-up with her upset win as a $15 chance in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m).
She’s failed to produce a decent run since however beaten five or more lengths in her latest three starts.
Her most recent effort was eighth in a field of nine behind Pago Rock in the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 13.
This weekend Ryan brings her back home to Sydney for the season’s opening Group race, the $125,000 Group 3 Missile Stakes (1200m).
Only a short list of hopefuls is nominated for the feature too with fellow Group 1 champions Hay List and Atomic Force among them.
John McNair’s triple Group 1 champ Hay List however is far from a certain acceptor after a below par trial last week and the weekend suspension of their hoop Glyn Schofield.
It should still be a telling early season run with the likely favourite being 2011 winner Rain Affair coming off a blistering 9.5 length trial win at Randwick last Friday.
Mrs Onassis was set to trial at Royal Randwick this morning however Ryan opted to bypass the hit-out and go straight to the Missile.
Confident in his runner’s fitness the only concern for Ryan is now the track conditions with the trainer praying for some firm ground.
“I’m just hoping the weather stays as it is and the Randwick track is good,” sportsnews.com.au quoted Ryan as saying this week.
“She won’t trial. She doesn’t need to. I just want to get her back on a firm surface.”
She will also be aided by the return of Kerrin McEvoy to the saddle, Brenton Avdulla aboard last start, who rode her to her Oakleigh Plate success.
The final field for the Missile Stakes 2013 will be released on Wednesday and published right here at Races.com.au.
The weekend’s hottest horse racing odds will then be available online at bookmaker.com.au where you’ll also find the juicy ante-post Group 1 markets for the big spring features.
