By Chris Roots
Jason Coyle knows there are reasons punters wouldn't want to support his filly Insensata at Rosehill on Saturday, but to him those negatives are positives.
Insensata steps out against the older mares at 1350 metres after winning a race restricted to three-year-olds over 1500 metres a fortnight ago. "If you are going to take on the older mares with a three-year-old, July is the time to do it with an in-form filly," Coyle said. "She has not run a bad race this preparation and she got the job done last time and was very tough.
On the up: Jockey Tim Clark rides Insensata to win at Rosehill. Credit: bradleyphotos.com.au
"I actually think the drop back to 1350 metres works well for her because she only just got the 1500 metres and I think her sprint can be more effective at the short trip.
"I think she is going to get the right run from a good draw and there is enough speed for her to come over the top of them."
Insensata continued a strong past couple of months for Coyle with her win at Rosehill and he thinks she can measure up to a fifth BOBS win for the season.
"It is getting close to the end of the season and if we could get another BOBS bonus with her it would be good for the owners," he said. "She is the sort of mare that is going to win her races and perhaps we might be able to find a stakes race for her at the right time of the year."
Coyle will also take Slightly Sweet to Rosehill for the Winter Stakes and is hoping Berry Delicious gets a start in the same race.
Slightly Sweet was a game third behind Gold Symphony and The Monstar in the Civic Stakes after having a chequered passage in the straight. She has drawn wide in gate 13 but the step up in trip is in her favour.
"Her best form is around the mile and she meets Gold Symphony better at the weights," Coyle said.
"She is getting back to her best form and I expect her to run really well.
"I would really like to get Berry Delicious in because she is going very well at the moment."
Peter Snowden is also confident his mare Extensible can capitalise on being down in the weights in the Winter Stakes. She is part of the stable's three-pronged attack, which includes favourite Gold Symphony, and Extensible will benefit from a soft run out of gate two.
"She's a good mare. She's just had no luck from bad draws," Snowden said. "It's the first time she's drawn a decent gate for ages. She's got no weight on her back (53kg) either, so she's in with a great chance."