If the upcoming Rosehill meeting were scheduled just one day later, in-form mare So Newchee Thinks would be sidelined from competition.

The So You Think daughter is currently in foal to Starspangledbanner, and according to racing regulations, her cut-off date for racing is February 1 – coinciding with this Saturday’s Rosehill event.

“She can’t race on Sunday, but she can race on Saturday,” trainer Kris Lees jokingly remarked.

Though the timing is tight, So Newchee Thinks has earned her chance to make her final appearance in the Ranvet Handicap (2000m), where she’ll aim for a Saturday-grade victory before retiring to stud.

The mare has been in stellar form lately, winning her last two starts in midweek city races, even while carrying her pregnancy.

Lees isn’t certain whether it’s the impending motherhood that’s giving her the boost, or simply a sign of her maturation.

“It can happen, but it’s the chicken or the egg. It could just be time and maturity,” he noted. “She’s a So You Think mare who always had potential and has taken a little while to peak. She’s a four-year-old now and probably just needed that bit of time too.”

With her retirement fast approaching, does the team have any second thoughts about not waiting another year for the breeding barn?

“I haven’t asked,” Lees admitted. “There might be a little bit.”

In addition to So Newchee Thinks, Lees will also saddle Age Of Sail in the race. After finishing midfield in his 1500m debut this campaign, Lees expects the gelding to thrive over the middle distance.

The Group 3 Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on February 22 could be a potential next step for him.

“That would be a logical race, although it’s a race where a lot of nice horses resume too,” Lees explained. “Hopefully he will have a couple of runs going into it if we go that way. It’s something we’d consider but he’d need to be winning on Saturday to be running there, I’d say.”