Kansas Sunflower out to break drought

Trainer Luke Oliver is hoping Kansas Sunflower can go one better than her recent string of runner-up finishes when the mare chases her first win in more than a year on Saturday.

Kansas Sunflower is nominated for two Caulfield races and Oliver said she will run in the 1200m benchmark-90 for mares, with Craig Williams to ride.

Kansas Sunflower finished second for the third consecutive time, in her most recent start at Bendigo, over 1300m and it was her fifth runner-up finish in 12 starts since she won at Flemington in April last year.

“We’ve given her a bit of a freshen up since her last run (on June 2),” Oliver said.

“She’s consistent but she just needs to win another one, that’s all.

“She seems to race well at Caulfield and a soft track would be ideal.”

He has kept the mare fresh for Saturday before looking to step her up to 1500m next start.

Oliver has She’s Got More nominated in three places this week but said the filly was almost certain to run in the 2000m handicap for three-year-olds at Caulfield with apprentice Ben Thompson to ride.

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She’s Got More broke her maiden in her fifth start at Pakenham over 1600m this month, before running on to win again in a 1900m benchmark-58 at Geelong.

Both races were on synthetic tracks and Oliver said Saturday’s race would be a nice test.

He believes She’s Got More will relish the distance and expects the lightly-framed filly will develop into a city-class stayer, it’s just whether that’s now or when she’s more mature.

“She’s earned her chance,” he said.

“She’s progressing well and the 2000 metres on a soft track would be in her favour. I’m sure she can run well.”

Meanwhile, Oliver said Jessy Belle was spelling in Queensland after her fifth in Saturday’s Group One Tattersall’s Tiara and a decision on the rising six-year-old mare’s racing future would be discussed soon.

“We’re going to discuss in the next two weeks whether she kicks on or whether she gets retired,” Oliver said.

“I’d love to give her another spring, so hopefully she kicks on.

“At this stage she’s having a two-week spell and then getting ready to come back for potentially the Let’s Elope Stakes, but we’re just going to have a discussion while she’s spelling.”

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