3 minute read

Progressive mare Ouija should prove hard to hold out in today's Darley Tiara Handicap (race 5) at Muswellbrook.

The $20,000 race for fillies and mares, over 1500m, will no doubt see the Darley owned Ouija go around a short priced favourite after two recent strong wins.

The mare, a daughter of Viscout, broke through for her maiden win over 1200m at the end of her last campaign.

That ended what would have been an awfully frustrating campaign for trainer Peter Snowden, after the mare had placed at all five of her runs, two of which were in town, prior to her maiden success.

That was at Hawkesbury where she raced just off the speed before running on for a head win.

Fresh-up after a good break she struggled on a heavy track at Gosford, finishing a long last, before a much improved effort over 1300m at Hawkesbury on top of the ground.

There she sat midfield but worked home steadily for fourth.

Back to 1200m in soft ground at Gosford she was beaten for early speed and settled well back.

Turning there she worked home steadily but perhaps found the six furlongs too short as she ground into fifth.

Up to what looked a more suitable 1400m and on the big track at Newcastle, she settled midfield with a good run but worked into the race strongly and hit the line well for a head win.

Snowden stuck with what worked and returned to Newcastle last start for a Class 2 over 1500m.

There she again settled well in a midfield spot before running on hard and scoring a length win.

Today the mare rises to meet open class fillies and mares but doesn't find many with only Forced To Tango having won more than two races.

She drops a couple of kilos and has drawn well, although the field is so small it wouldn't really matter.

The trip certainly suits, as does the big open track, and good to slow conditions would be within her scope.

She is a horse on the up racing in terrific form and it's hard to see her not being in the finish again.

Forced To Tango is the best performed mare in the race and she gets the chance to return to winning form.

The mare, prepared by Ruth Cooper at Moonbi, has seven career wins to her name and is well placed here with 54kg on the minimum.

Last start, the mare raced over 1400m at Grafton and got back to last before running on well to finish third.

Leading rider Robert Thompson is aboard again and in this small field should be able to be camped closer to the speed.

Although having never won beyond 1400m, she was placed at a mile several runs back and won't get a better chance than today to run it out.

Fashion Statement is way better than her last run suggests and wasn't far away over a mile in town two back.

Rocktheline had been out of form settling back in the field before leading throughout to score last time at Moree.

This is far tougher but if she goes forward again might give a cheeky sight at odds.