WHEN well-bred four-year-old mare Tough Missile scored an emphatic win on debut on Melbourne Cup day in Hobart late last year her trainer and breeder Ray Worbey was excited about her prospects.
But as often is the case with the extra smart ones Tough Missile suffered an injury that forced her to be spelled.
Tough Missile suffered a hock injury but her time in the paddock and appropriate treatment has ensured a full recovery.
In Launceston tonight Tough Missile makes her long awaited return to racing in a class one handicap over 1200 metres but she is fresh from a trial win over 900 metres in Hobart last week.
“The mare has been to the trials and won well so I am looking forward to see what she can do first-up,” said trainer Ray Worbey.
The daughter of Tough Speed has drawn the outside barrier in the field of 10 tonight but that’s nothing new for the mare as she drew the same gate on debut in a field of 11 but made light of the task.
“I’m not expecting the outside gate to be an issue because she has excellent early speed and Bulent (Muhcu) should be able to get her in a forward spot early in the race,” he said.
However this time she meets a few well-performed sprinters including the Barry Campbell-trained Almost Art who won at her only start on her home rack at Spreyton last month.
Almost Art won by over three lengths and led Campbell to suggest she might be a bit special.
Tough Missile also will have to contend with the Scott Brunton-trained Blu To Be Sure that is having his third start this time in and would only need to take his last-start form into tonight’s event to make his presence felt.
Other chances in the race are the Gary White-trained mare Marmalady and the top weight Nuclear Hero who hasn’t started since August last year but he has a good first-up record.