Benjamin Smith’s luckless Tattersall’s Tiara third placegetter In Her Time will chase an atoning Group 1 win in Melbourne this spring with a Manikato Stakes 2017 run this October pending.

In Her Time will make her Melbourne debut on October 27 under the lights at Moonee Valley in the 2017 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.
Smith almost immediately confirmed plans to target the $1 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 27, the night before Cox Plate Day, after his mare was unable to salute for the punters in Brisbane over the weekend.
The four-year-old daughter of Time Thief lined-up at Doomben as the short-priced favourite in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m) after her second at the track and distance a fortnight earlier in the Stradbroke Handicap.
Things went amiss right from her poor jump away from the wide barrier 12 draw in the 2016/17 Australian Racing Season’s final Group 1 race however and In Her Time only managed to run a length back third behind the upset Peter & Paul Snowden-trained winner Tycoon Tara ($19).
Ridden by Joshua Parr, In Her Time suffered interference during her wide Tiara run and the Newcastle-based Smith said he remained happy with what she managed to achieve in the end with so much working against her and how she had come through the run.
“She’s pulled up absolutely amazingly,” he told Racing Victoria on Sunday.
“I can’t believe it. Should have head down and had the sulks after her last couple of pretty tough runs, but she ate everything last night and I took her for a walk today and she was dragging me around everywhere bright as a button.
“Ninety percent of horses would lay down for the next few days, but she was out there having a walk and a pick and looking at the track. I think she wanted to go around again.”
The rising five-year-old has now had four Group 1 starts including her two Brisbane placings this prep, but Smith his hoping she can go all the way and add an important elite level success on her record over the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
Winner of Sydney’s Group 2 Breeders Classic (1200m) – Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) double this February gone, In Her Time is as yet unraced in Victoria.
“We haven’t had much luck in Sydney or Brisbane, so we‘ll give Melbourne a go,” Smith said.
“We’ve got our plans right through the autumn next year, so we’ll just stay the course and hopefully luck favours us one day.
“We’ll head to the Manikato. That’ll be her first up assignment, we’ve got a few other options after that, but that’s definitely going to be here first up run there.”
Futures Manikato Stakes 2017 betting at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au is currently led by super sprinter Chautauqua ($7) and the Golden Slipper winning filly She Will Reign ($8).
In Her Time meanwhile can be found at little further down the Manikato Stakes all-in odds at a current quote of $11 to break her Group 1 duck first-up.
Check out the full spring Group 1 racing odds and offers online now at Ladbrokes.com.au.