Nick Olive has been happy to take it run by run with in-form three-year-old Toes In The Water, with the Maurice filly to have her eighth run of a preparation that begun in April when she lines up in Wednesday’s Grafton Guineas.
A winner two back in a Class 2 at Goulburn, Toes In The Water led throughout to win a Class 3 Highway Handicap at Rosehill last start and Olive believes she’s a good chance to make it three in a row.
“She’s in a good spot at the moment, that’s for sure. It was a good win, her win at Goulburn was great but she raised the bar and stepped up and won well at Rosehill last start and she hasn’t taken a backwards step since so hopefully she can make it three in a row tomorrow,” Olive said.
Toes In The Water has certainly lived up to her name over Winter, showing a likeness for rain affected surfaces, but Olive has no issue with the possibility of a firmer track on Wednesday and says the plan is to be positive from barrier 11.
“It’s handy that she can handle a wet surface but I think she’s just as effective on a dry surface… she’ll just roll forward and sort it out from there, Coriah (Keatings) knows her really well. She is adaptable, she doesn’t have to lead,” Olive said.
Even if Toes In The Water is to win Wednesday’s Quality race, Olive will potentially look to spell the filly, but will continue to place her to advantage before any potential black type opportunity arises.
“After every run I definitely think about turning her out and she probably will go out after this run but she just kept raising the bar her last few starts. She probably plateaued three or four starts ago and then she took off again and really thrived, and that’s come through in her form,” Olive said.
“If she comes up and looks to go that way we’ll look at those (black type) options… it’d be nice to think she could get to a listed fringe race on the provincial circuit but we’ll just place her to get the best results.”
Toes In The Water is a $5 second elect for the Grafton Guineas with Matthew Dunn’s gelding Impendor narrowly holding the call at $4.60.