Low profile trainer Jason Pateman is taking a confident approach with Showy Chloe in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Pateman says there are a number of factors including the absence of a potential star filly that has given him cause for great optimism.
“I’m real confident and I couldn’t be any happier really,” said Pateman on TABradio.
“Jarrad (Noske) gave her a workout on Tuesday and came back with a big smile on his face.
“What made me really happy was when Bob (Peters) gave Perfect Reflection a couple of weeks off.
“I wouldn’t trade Showy Chloe for any other runner in the race.”
Perfect Reflection underlined her star qualities with a brilliant win in the Group 3 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) at Ascot last Saturday.
The exciting More Than Ready filly, another high profile member of the Grant Williams team, has yet to be beaten in four career starts.
Showy Chloe ran a sound fourth to Perfect Reflection in the Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m) last month, her first run this campaign.
She then ran a fading second to Blackwood in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) after finding herself in the unusual role of pacesetter.
“I don’t think that is her way of going but there was no speed in the race,” said Pateman.
“I thought she did a huge job of running second to Blackwood with an extra 2 ½ kg.”
A virus prevented Showy Chloe from starting in the Champion Fillies Stakes, but Pateman is confident she won’t be lacking fitness.
“She had a temperature but we have treated it and are on top of it now,” said Pateman.
“We were eyeing the Guineas anyhow and with the hot weather we gave her a week.
“We didn’t want her to back her up with two hard runs in high temperature.
“She’s had a good hit out and everything is going good.”
Showy Chloe boasts a record of one win and four placings from six appearances.
The daughter of Alfred Nobel was placed in three feature races last season: the Supremacy Stakes (1100m), the Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) and Karrakatta Plate (1200m).
She capped an outstanding maiden campaign with victory in the WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in April.
Showy Chloe, who lumped 57kg and 58kg in her opening two runs this preparation, drops to 54.5kg for Jarrad Noske. In a capacity field of 16, she has drawn favourably in barrier five.
“We finally get weight relief and drew a gate,” said Pateman.
“It’s certainly in our favour.”
Showy Chloe is a $7.50 hope on the TAB. She is one of four runners under double figures with Arcadia Dream top pick at $4.
Noske will be out to emulate his father, Jeff, who won the 1997 WA Guineas for trainer, Chris Willis, in 1997.
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