Velacano set for belated racing debut

Velocano is finally poised to launch her racing career at Canterbury after a cruel barrier draw and an abandoned meeting conspired to delay her debut.

The two-year-old filly has copped gate nine on Wednesday but trainer Marc Conners says she has waited long enough to try to translate encouraging trial form into a similar performance on race day.

The heavy track was no deterrent to Velocano lining up in the 2YO maiden (1100m).

“We’ve been going to run her twice in the last three weeks. One day we drew the outside barrier at Gosford and then the races were called off at Wyong,” Conners said.

Velocano trialled at Warwick Farm last week to keep in trim after the Wyong meeting was scrapped on June 8, giving Kathy O’Hara more time to build up a rapport.

“Kathy’s ridden her three times and her feedback has been good, so it good she’s got the ride,” Conners said.

Velocano has won two of her four trials, including one in January when she shaded the Michael Freedman-trained Teaspoon who went on to contest four black-type races in the Sydney autumn carnival, including the Golden Slipper.

“She beat Teaspoon and she’s won another trial (in May). The last two trials have been really nice,” Conners said.

“I like the way she’s progressed. She seems a really nice filly in the making.”

Velocano was rated a $9.50 chance in the 10-strong field with the TAB on Tuesday with fellow debutante, the Kris Lees-trained Sasso Corbaro, the $2.80 favourite.

“We head into this race pretty confident,” Conners said.

“We’re a bit wary of it being first-up but other than that she’s in good order.”

The Warwick Farm trainer also has Dylan’s Romance listed to race for the first time since February in a benchmark (1200m), but he is unlikely to run unless the track is upgraded to soft.

“He doesn’t run many bad races but unfortunately when he does it’s usually a heavy track,” Conners said.