Trainer Grahame Begg went against his usual formula with Libiamo when he kicked her career off with a debut win at Caulfield.
Begg invariably starts his horses off in maiden company on the provincial circuit in the hope of getting an early win on the board.
But a wet winter in Melbourne forced Begg to change tact with Libiamo who will run for the second time at Caulfield on Saturday in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m).
Saturday’s race comes after Libiamo scored in two-year-old fillies’ company over 1100m on July 10.
“She always showed us ability but she had a few little antics, like loading in the gates, and it was a matter of ironing those things out,” Begg said.
“Normally with a horse like that I would take them to a maiden at the provincials, but where we were at that point in time, with so many heavy tracks, and I knew we would get a pretty good surface at Caulfield on that day, it worked well.
“It wasn’t an overly big field and what I could see they weren’t overly strong and she was able to come along and get the job done.
“Saturday’s race has gone up a notch or two, but she’s progressed well.”
Following Libiamo’s debut win at Caulfield, Begg said the filly off to Fulmen Park where she spent time in the paddock during the day and was boxed at night.
She also did some work on the water-walker to retain her fitness.
And the barrier antics that Libiamo displayed as a younger horse, have all but disappeared.
“She had a jump-out last week that topped her off nicely for Saturday’s race,” Begg said.
“And she went in the gates without an issue. She was better in the jump-out than at her first start, which was pleasing.”
How far Libiamo progresses into the spring, Begg is unsure.
“Let’s see what happens on Saturday,” he said.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au