WARRNAMBOOL trainer Peter Chow is mindful his unlucky mare Pres De Toi is having her eleventh start for this preparation but he's expecting a forward showing from her in a $125,000 race at Flemington on Saturday.
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Chow has called on the services of top jockey Damian Lane to ride Pres De Toi in the 1800-metre race after the six-year-old had been ridden by apprentice jockeys at her past four runs.
"Pres De Toi has been extremely unlucky in this campaign," the popular trainer told The Standard.
"With a bit of luck she could have an extra two or three wins next to her name but that's racing. She's showing no signs of being over the top.
"She's in great shape. Her owners decided to offer Damian the ride and that's no offence to the apprentice jockeys. She's just had no luck in her races.
Apprentice jockey Tahlia Hope was not disappointed with the performance of Pres De Toi running 13th at her last start.
"Tahlia just got off and said it was nothing more then a track gallop," Chow said.
"Tahlia had no where to go. She couldn't get clear air in the straight. It was just bad luck what happened. I'm just hoping our fortunes will change around on Saturday."
The early betting markets rate Pres Du Toi a $9.50 chance of winning the benchmark 70.
Local trainers Aaron Purcell, Lindsey Smith, Maddie Raymond and Patrick McKenna have runners on the nine race program.
Lightly-raced five-year-old Riding The Wave lines up for Smith in the $140,000 Manifold Stakes over 1400 metres.
Riding The Wave won by a nose at his last start over 1200 metres at Flemington. Smith said the promising galloper will be suited by the 1400 metres of the Manifold.
Garimperio is Smith's other runner on the card while Raymond saddles up Pacodali, Purcell accepted with Guizot and Tea Tales is McKenna's runner.
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