Underrated mare Prussian Vixen to stake claim in Hareeba Stakes
PRUSSIAN Vixen isn’t talked about as one of the better mares running in Victoria, but the Michael Mehegan-trained runner should be taken note of ahead of Saturday’s Listed Hareeba Stakes.
The locally-trained four-year-old at Mornington will get the advantage of its home track where it has won two from three attempts and it’s coming off an impressive last start win at Caulfield.
The talented mare defeated the likes of subsequent winners Silent Sedition and Ameristralia in the Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes, but there’s a reluctance to talk about Prussian Vixen as a leading contender despite strong form this campaign.
“I think she’s definitely underrated,” Mehegan said. “She has always flown under the radar, even when she wins they’re always keen to talk about the horses that she beats rather than her.
“She’s been competitive and beaten home some quality horses.”
It has trained on well since winning the Bellmaine Stakes in February and bigger races could be on the cards if it performs to a high standard on Saturday.
“She came through the Bellmaine terrific – there just wasn’t a lot for her,” Mehegan said. “I had her in the paddock for seven days immediatelt after that win.
“She had a trial 10 days ago, she won that, she went super so she’s coming into the Hareeba well.
“I’m really happy with how she’s been training and I’m hoping she runs well.”
Mehegan could target the Sapphire Stakes at Randwick on April 8 during The Championships before possibly heading to the Sangster Stakes.
“There’s a Caulfield VOBIS sprint on the 22nd of April, that’s in a months time – in between if she runs well on Saturday there’s the option to go to the Sapphire, but she’d have to prove she’s up to that level,” Mehegan said.
“If she’s performing well, then we’ll have a look at the Sangster. That all depends on how she performs and if she performs.
Prussian Vixen had some soundness issues which resulted in a drop in form last campaign, but it has overcome those problems and is great form this season.
“She’s definitely improved this preparation,” Mehegan said. “I had problems with her last preparation with her joints, but she’s gone to another level.”
There has been plenty of rain fall throughout the week in Victoria, but with an improving forecast for the rest of the week, punters should expect a dry track come Saturday.
For Prussian Vixen – a good track would be ideal for the four-year-old which has worked impressively at home leading into the feature.
“I think they had 40ml overnight, it’s a slow 5 at the moment,” Mehegan said. “I don’t think there’s much rain between now and Saturday so I’d expect that to dry.
“She worked this morning on a heavy track and went terrific. She’s good on any ground. She’s possibly better on a firmer track, but she’s only had a couple of starts on slow going and she’s performed well on it.”
The Hareeba Stakes runs at 3.50pm this Saturday at Mornington where Prussian Vixen is currently paying $11 with bookmakers.