EASY STEER ON CARDS FOR CHELSEA

THEY say one of the secrets to a horse realising its potential is to have it in a great frame of mind, which is why Seven Mile Beach trainer Joel Flannery expects last-start winner Steer For Lady to make it successive wins at Elwick on Sunday.

Steer For Lady scored a courageous first-up win in a maiden in Launceston three weeks ago and, according to the trainer, the lightly raced five-year-old mare has improved since.

“All I’ve done with this mare since her last start is keep her happy, and she has definitely trained on since the win,” Flannery said.

“I had her in work long enough to win first-up and, even though she did more than I expected, it didn’t really surprise me because she is a talented mare with good staying potential.”

It is the mare’s staying potential that convinced Flannery to step her up from 1220m to a 1600m maiden-class one, and even an outside barrier doesn’t faze him.

“She’s bred to stay, and in previous preps she has acquitted herself well over 2100m, so going to 1600m second-up shouldn’t be an issue,’’ Flannery said.

“She has very good early speed if needed and it might allow her to go forward from the wide gate and slot in somewhere forward.”

Steer For Lady will again be ridden by first-year apprentice Chelsea Baker, who already has reduced her claim to 2kg even though she has only been riding in races since March.

“Chelsea has had two rides for me and the way she’s been riding I’m very happy to have her aboard,” Flannery said.

Baker has already ridden 24 winners along with 36 minor placings for more than $500,000 in stakes in an amazing effort for the former star junior soccer player.

Meanwhile, Tasmania’s two representatives at Caulfield on Saturday, Algernon and Take The Sit, travelled well across Bass Strait and are set to make their interstate debuts.

Take The Sit, from the Bill and Monica Ryan stable, takes winning form into a Benchmark 100 handicap over her pet distance of 1400m, having scored easily at Launceston two weeks ago.

Algernon hasn’t started since winning the Winzenberg Quality Sprint over 1100m at Elwick in December, but he has an impeccable first-up record over 1100m and trainer Imogen Miller has found the ideal race for the gelding’s first try across the water.

He tackles a Benchmark 78 over 1100m and should give a big sight.