Sam just needs to plant Petals on the speed on Sunday for her to show her true colours

Sam Collett needs only to ride a positive race on promising filly Platinum Petals ($7) to see her in with a big chance at Awapuni on Sunday.

The three-year-old strikes a competitive field in the fifth race and trainer Lisa Latta has reached for top rider Collett to switch the filly on early.

When Platinum Petals resumed from a two month break on April 9, she was slow out of the gates for apprentice Kozzi Asano and, despite looming up in behind the leaders halfway down the straight, only battled on for seventh.

Latta says the filly races much better when up on the speed, evidenced by her maiden 1600 metre win at Wanganui in January when she was taken to the front - by Collett.

Platinum Petals showed her promise at her next start when, pitted against a strong premier field at Trentham and paying $43, she was trapped three wide in the open throughout and still went under by less than a length behind the smart Foogayzee.

Sam Collett … jumps from the inside gate on Platinum Petals.Latta says the Deep Field filly has really furnished since then and you can see considerable improvement in her since her first-up run.

“Racing a three-year-old against older horses is a bit of a concern but I do like her. She’s a big, strong filly with a good way about her.

“And while she’ll be better over more ground than 1400 metres later on, Sunday’s race will be more like 1500 to 1600 with the ground a slow 8.

“She seems to like wet tracks when galloping so I don’t think the ground will be too much of a worry.”

Platinum Petals, a $90,000 yearling buy for Neville McAlister and Lincoln Farms, has raced once on a wet track and that was on debut when she finished a fine second on slow 9 footing at Otaki.

“I just want to see her go forward early from the inside draw and be put into the race then she should be right in the thick of things.

“Her work has been consistent and she is feeling well in herself.”

Latta also lines up Kelly’s Inspiration ($6.50), Sir Beets ($6.50) and Akela Belle ($16) in the race and says they’re all in with a chance.

“Sir Beets likes wet tracks so that will help him.”

Classy mare Platinum Rapper ($23, $6.25) will be suited by the slow track in the Anzac Mile but meets a very strong line-up.

Latta says the race will set her up beautifully for next week’s $100,000 Travis Stakes at Te Rapa, a weight-for-age feature for fillies and mares over 2000 metres.