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Front-running mare Either Oar’s habit of hitting the wall in a preparation is playing on trainer Ross McConville’s mind but he’s confident she can give another big sight at Rosehill on Saturday.
The five-year-old is having her fifth run of the campaign in the Bowermans Handicap (1300m) and Ross Mcconville said she's showing no signs of training off just yet so sees no reason why she won't hold her form.
"She can tend to do that, I just hope she stays up,'' he said.
"She can have a tendency of taking a few runs to get there with fitness and then once she gets there she can go off the boil after that. I just hope she puts in on Saturday."
While the Kembla trainer recognises it's never easy to lead all the way in a race there'll be no changes to the catch me if you can tactics she regularly employs.
Either Oar, $4.80 with TAB on Thursday, was run down by Vienna Princess after opening up a sizeable lead around the turn over the same course two weeks ago.
"She had a good break on them but the winner is a black type horse,'' he said.
"She's a big robust mare. It's taken her this long to get her to where she is."
The mare's last win came over the Rosehill 1300m back on November 5, she was McConville's first winner after officially taking over Gwenda Markwell's stable following her passing late last year.
It was the seventh run of her preparation so there's every reason for McConville to think she's not topped out just yet in this campaign.
McConville is hopeful there is another win or two to come from Either Oar who is likely to be retired to stud in the new season.
"We'll give her a few more runs then we'll probably take her back and breed with her,'' he said.
"There's a half relation to her coming up at the sales next year we are going to try and buy, and put the same people in, and see how we go."
Stablemate Burning Need will be looking for a bit more luck than she was handed two weeks ago when she has another shot at a Midway Handicap (1400m).
While she ran 12th behind Oakfield Waratah, McConville said there was still merit in the performance in a race where she basically lost sight of the bunny.
Prior to last start, Burning Need hit the line strongly into a close third behind Uzziah a similar Midway over the same trip.
"She's got to come from behind but you just can't get her that far back,'' he said.
"They get lost, they get discouraged I reckon and it's too hard to pick them up."
Though beaten six lengths, Punter's Intelligence recorded her last 600m at 33.76, the third fastest of the race, and she ran the second fastest last 200m (11.30).
She's again drawn awkwardly but faces a slightly smaller field than a fortnight ago.
"She's got a short sprint, we do like to have her midfield,'' McConville said.
"She needs the pace on, she's one of those horses that has to have it right for her."
