Vormista thriving for showdown with Cat
09 May, 2008
Adelaide trainer Mark Minervini believes he has ticked all the necessary boxes to have lightly-raced mare Vormista in prime condition for her showdown with Apache Cat in the Group One BTC Cup at Doomben on Saturday.
Vormista arrived at the Gold Coast 10 days ago to prepare for her comeback and Minervini can't fault her condition despite the fact she has not raced since finishing eighth to Miss Fantabulous in the Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last October.
Minervini later discovered Vormista had a stress fracture in her back and sent her to the paddock for four months on veterinary advice.
"We sent her to the Ballarat vet clinic and the vets there said the injury probably didn't occur in one incident and had developed over time," Minervini said.
"She's been soft-boned and immature all her life and she even developed shin soreness as a three-year-old.
"It's a rare injury (back fracture) but she got through it well after four months off. Only time fixes those sorts of injuries."
Minervini's only concern with the four-year-old in Saturday's 1200-metre feature is that he was unable to give her a barrier trial.
"It's probably the only box I haven't ticked with her," he said.
"She's had plenty of work and is ready to race but we just ran out of time to fit in a barrier trial.
"I've given her half a dozen gallops right-handed and I'll be very surprised if she doesn't handle this direction."
Minervini can't fault Vormista's appetite since she arrived in Queensland for an ambitious winter campaign.
"I'm really happy with her. She's always got her head in the feed bin and she's really enjoying it at the Gold Coast," he said.
"The climate in Queensland is so different."
After the BTC Cup, Vormista will tackle a further three Group One sprints including the Doomben 10,000 (1350m) on May 24 and the $1 million Stradbroke Hcp (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7.
Her finale will be in the Winter Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on 21.
Vormista will be ridden by Damien Oliver who ended his Group One drought in style over the Sydney autumn carnival with wins on Sarrera in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, No Wine No Song in the Sydney Cup and Casino Prince in the Chipping Norton Stakes.
The top Melbourne rider had endured a frustrating sequence of seconds in major races this season, including the Melbourne Cup on Purple Moon, the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicaps on Magnus and the Australian Cup and the BMW on Princess Coup.
Minervini believes Apache Cat looks the BTC Cup winner but expects his charge to make the baldy-faced assassin work hard for his expected victory.
In the spring, Vormista ran a courageous second to Gold Edition in the Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
"The Manikato has been her best performance so far. She drew wide against more seasoned horses that day and ran Gold Edition to a (long) neck," he said.
"Most of her races we've ridden her quiet and let her find her feet. She's only led twice before and we won't be doing that again.
"I expect she'll be just behind Apache Cat in the run and in front of Swick."
Apache Cat is the $1.40 BTC Cup favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Vormista at $6 and Swick at $7.
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