Written by Paul Vettise
The well-related Miss Norway (Reward For Effort) doesn’t always help herself and trainer John Sadler is hoping blinkers will have the 4-year-old on her best behaviour when she steps out in the G3 Sir John Monash S.
The mare has a tidy record with six wins from her 15 appearances and she is a past course and distance winner on her home track at Caulfield.
Trainer John Sadler describes Miss Norway as her own worst enemy at times
“She’s good, but she is her own worst enemy. With blinkers on she can over-race and with them off she wants to hang in,” Sadler said.
“It’s something we haven’t been able to get to the bottom of yet, but we’ll put the blinkers on her on Saturday, thinking that there will be good pace and where she’s drawn she can sit in behind them and hopefully the fence isn’t off.”
“She’s good, but she is her own worst enemy. With blinkers on she can over-race and with them off she wants to hang in.” - John Sadler.
Miss Norway has banked a cheque in each of her last two appearances and Sadler can’t fault the mare on the score of condition.
“She’s happy and fit and racing well. You’d have to query her at weight-for-age, but it’s the time of year when the good weight-for-age horses aren’t about so it’s worth a go.”
A $130,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale graduate, Miss Norway is a half-sister to the dam of the G1 Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time (Flying Spur) and the family of the three-time Australian Horse of the Year Black Caviar (Bel Esprit).
Miss Norway was a $130,000 Inglis Premier purchase
Sadler will also be represented by the resuming Oak Door (Commands) in the Sir John Monash, but isn’t expecting fireworks from him just yet.
“He’s had a couple of jump-outs and he’s a happy horse. Unfortunately, he’s very unsound hence the number of lay-offs he’s had,” he said.
“Unfortunately, he’s very unsound hence the number of lay-offs he’s had.” – John Sadler.
“A bit of give in the ground will benefit him and he’s going to improve with the run.”
Unraced since October, Oak Door has won five races, including the G2 Autumn S., and is a son of the stakes winner Beyonce’s Star (Orientate {USA}).
The stable is also expecting a bold showing from the 2-year-old Showcase The Gold (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) in the Ladbrokes Odds Boost H. after a handy debut run for sixth behind the highly-regarded King Of Hastings (Ilovethiscity).
John Sadler
“That was a good effort. They went slowly and then sprinted and got away on him a bit,” Sadler said.
“He’s a promising horse bred in Kiwiland and I like him. I think he’ll run a lot better than the odds might suggest.”
Showcase The Gold is raced by his breeder Dr K C Tan and is out of Uno Sayuri (Jpn) (Scatter The Gold {Can}), who has produced three winners.
“Dr Tan is a liver surgeon in Singapore and breeds quite a few horses,” Sadler said. “I’ve had a few horses for him over the last three years and he’s a terrific client.”
