It's never a cinch for horses to go straight from a Maiden success to doubling up in a Class 1 next time out.
But given local trainer Jason Attard's track record this season and what his lightly-raced mare Nesrine has overcome, taking tomorrow's Mental Health Matters Class 1 Handicap (1100m) at Hawkesbury is definitely on the cards.
Attard's four winners in the first three months have all been on home turn; the latest with Nesrine, who strolled home on resumption and at only her third start in a Provincial Maiden Plate (1100m) on October 9.
Nesrine, bred and raced by Kate Nivison's Etak Thoroughbreds, is lucky to be alive let alone winning races.
She fared well at her first two career starts earlier in the year, and shin soreness resulted in her going for a break after being runner-up in a Super 3YO Maiden Plate (1100m) at Hawkesbury on February 12.
The then three-year-old daughter of Denman rested well and was just about to be put back into work when disaster struck.
Nesrine nearly lost her life in a paddock accident when kicked in the head by her unraced younger half-sister (by Star Witness).
She sustained a fractured skull and had to be transported to Randwick Equine Centre.
"At one stage we thought Nesrine wasn't going to make it, but she's a real fighter," Attard said today.
"When she pulled through, Kate (Nivison) gave permission for me to rehab her at my farm."
Attard says it was a slow and lengthy process, and he had to mollycoddle Nesrine as she couldn't eat lucerne hay and had to be hand fed chaff.
Because she was box bound for quite some time, she was walked time and time again to enable her to pick grass.
"Her win at Hawkesbury earlier in the month was very special for all concerned, especially considering all the work done by Randwick Equine Centre and my staff," Attard said.
"Nesrine came through her October 9 win absolutely fine, and has trained on really well.
"It's a decent Class 1 tomorrow, but I'm very happy with her progress and confident she can run to the best of her ability again."
Whilst it's the same distance tomorrow, the only change is the jockey.
Runaway Hawkesbury jockeys' premiership leader Tommy Berry (12 wins already this season), who partnered Nesrine in her near three lengths' victory last time, is sitting out a brief suspension incurred at Hawkesbury last Thursday at a transferred Gosford fixture.
Tom Sherry takes over and, as Attard put it, "both Toms have been good to the stable".
Attard also nominated Nesrine for a F&M Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on Wednesday but did not accept with his mare, preferring to focus on Hawkesbury and hopefully keep his home track momentum rolling.
Nesrine this morning was a $3.90 second favorite with TAB.com.au, behind another last start winner, Ciaron Maher's Capitalist three-year-old Margin Call ($3.60), successful on debut at Canberra the day after Attard's mare's Hawkesbury triumph.
Attard also runs lightly-raced four-year-old Attestor (Grant Buckley) in the Racing Mates Resilience Provincial Maiden Plate (1500m).
"Attestor has been a slow maturer and as a result had only four starts," he said.
"His two runs back have been good, but I would have preferred to give him another week after his latest second at Nowra on October 19 before starting him again.
"However, he is doing well and this race (1500m with a small field) looks suitable enough."
Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Ed Cummings has withdrawn dual acceptor Shadashi from Acceptor's race, leaving only seven starters.
Instead the mare will contest the longer 1800m Evergreen Turf Maiden Plate, and Cummings has decided to race her without blinkers.
Lee Magorrian has the mount on the four-year-old daughter of Shamus Award, who was runner-up when resuming in a 1300m Maiden Plate at Newcastle in late August on heavy ground.
. The rail is back in the TRUE position for tomorrow's eight-race program, which begins at 1.15pm.
Racecourse manager Digby Nuthall at 8.20am today posted a "Good 4" rating. No rain has been recorded in the past seven days, but 24mm of irrigation (including 2mm in the previous 24 hours) has been put on the track in the same period.
