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Finland to broaden horizons
By Adrian Dunn
January 18, 2008 CHAMPION mare Miss Finland, scheduled to resume in the $500,000 Lightning Stakes at Flemington on February 2, is a surprise entry for the Dubai World Cup meeting.
The surprise is not that Miss Finland would be nominated for the world's richest meeting, but the fact that she has been nominated for the Golden Shaheen.
The 1200m Group 1 race is run on dirt.
Owner John Messara said the entry was to cover all bases, but added Miss Finland was more likely to go to the US if she ventured overseas.
Messara said trainer David Hayes had identified several Group 1 races, restricted to mares, over 1600m and on grass, during his trip to the US with Anamato last year.
He said the races were in June to July.
"If she puts it together, we'll head to the States," Messara said. "David noticed a number of races around the mile that would really suit her.
"We would take her and put her up against the best mares in the States on grass. It would fit in quite well with her program."
While Miss Finland is a $9 second favourite for the 2000m Australian Cup, Messara said she would be kept to races up to 1600m this preparation.
Messara said Miss Finland would resume in the 1000m Lightning if she continued to be sharp in her work.
He said the four-year-old would then run second-up in the $1 million Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8.
"The idea this campaign is to stick around the mile where she is very dominant," Messara said.
"We're aiming towards the mile races, and a race like the George Ryder in the Sydney carnival would be ideal.
"I think she would go very well. She's come back well and I know the stable is quite happy with her.
"Hopefully, we will see the best of her again this preparation."
Miss Finland is unbeaten at her past three starts at 1600m: the Cadbury Guineas, the Angus Armanasco Stakes and the Thousand Guineas.
She has also won two of her past three runs at 1400m -- the Memsie Stakes and Tranquil Star Stakes.
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