Aquanita trainer Simon Miller will aim at a quick bounce back for his stable after a keenly anticipated weekend fell flat in Melbourne and Perth.
The fickle fortunes of racing once again tested Miller’s resolve after Whispering Brook and First Among Equals failed to run as hoped.
Whispering Brook’s stuttering interstate campaign came to a shuddering halt when she ran 13th in the Group One Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington.
The Hinchinbrook filly produced the worst performance of her campaign after she ran placings in the Atlantic Jewell Stakes and Thousand Guineas.
Last season’s top Perth juvenile is returning home and Miller has not ruled out having a crack at next month’s Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m).
Stable mate First Among Equals was one of several runners who ran into bad luck in the Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m) at Ascot.
The Exceed And Excel gelding beat one runner home, but he was only 2 ½ lengths from the winner, Rock Magic, in a bunched finish.
But Miller can atone when he saddles a potent three-pronged attack in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on Tuesday.
Caipirinha, Royal Missile and Cape Lady are three of five runners in the 13 horse field who are in single digits on Tabtouch markets.
Caipirinha holds $3.70 favouritism after taking out last fortnight’s Listed Belgravia Stakes in impressive fashion, winning by a length.
Royal Missile, rated a $5.50 chance, pressed her claims with a barnstorming win from last to defeat Samovare by just under a length.
Cape Lady, a $6 chance, looked highly accomplished when winning on debut at Bunbury, leading throughout to win by 3 ½ lengths.
Caipirinha has drawn barrier 11 for Joe Azzopardi, Peter Knuckey handles Royal Missile from gate six, Cape Lady and French rider, Mathieu Autier, have gate five.
Miller said it was hard to split his trio of runners.
“Caipirinha is a really good filly who I have really built up and won the stakes race in dominant fashion against the trend,” Miller said.
“Cape Lady went to her first start and demoralised them and has a big step up from a maiden to a stakes race, but the way she won that maiden that jump won’t be a big a leap.
“Royal Missile is going super and picked them up off a slow speed which added more merit and clearly shows she has stamina.
“I really believe it’s whoever gets the best run in transit, but at some stage I am going to look dominant.”
rwwa: Julio Santarelli