Planets align for Miss Oahu at Hastings on Wednesday

You couldn’t script a better race for Miss Oahu.

On Wednesday she:

• Gets back to her favourite track at Hastings
• Will strike her favoured good footing
• And meets a small field with only four rivals of dubious quality.

Wednesday’s task and that which she faced last start are like chalk and cheese.

While Miss Oahu could run only 11th at Trentham, it was in a big field contesting a premier $40,000 race on Wellington Cup day.

And not only did the mare have to race three wide all the way, trainer Lisa Latta says it didn’t help that the track was off for the first couple of races.

A better guide to her chances was her previous race, at Hastings, when she was back and four wide early before pushing up to dispute the lead turning in and battling on bravely for third.

Miss Oahu has raced six times at Hastings for a win and three placings, her only unplaced efforts there when unhappy in wet ground.

Lincoln’s Command … tongue tie goes on but the hard footing could undo him. PHOTO: Royden Williams.Latta fears the footing on Wednesday could be the undoing of Lincoln’s Command - but with him she’s worried that it will be too hard.

With the track rated a good 3 this morning and fine weather forecast Latta says the horse will strike the same conditions that probably tripped him last start at Waipukurau.

Latta stepped Lincoln’s Command up to a middle distance that day, expecting the trip to really help him but he failed to stretch out at all in the run home.

If Lincoln’s Command doesn’t perform up to his excellent earlier trial on Wednesday, Latta says she’ll put him aside until the tracks soften.

But on his recent good work Latta is expecting an improved performance, from the inside alley against very moderate opposition.

“I’m also putting a tongue tie on him. Now and again when he’s been a bit uptight he’s been making a slight noise, which he never does at home (suggesting he cuts his wind off when he’s panicked).’’