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History is repeating itself for the connections of Gentle Annie who aims up for her third straight victory in the Merimbula Jazz Cup at the Sapphire Coast on Sunday.

Gentle Annie is a sister to Micalong who won three straight races for his connections in June and July of 2011. Seven years later, Gentle Annie is on track for three straight wins for owners Andrew and Sue Groves and trainer Mick Miladinovic.

Gentle Annie (Kayla Nisbet) bolts in at Nowra. Image by Bradley Photographers

Micalong was the first horse Miladinovic trained for the Groves and he was able to win three Cup races.

Possessing a powerful finish that has swept her to wins at Nowra and the Sapphire Coast last month, Gentle Annie steps up in grade and only drops 1kg on her past wins.

Miladinovic says lessons from the past had been put into place with Gentle Annie who has been kept to just nine starts.

“There has been tendon problems with some of the horses in her family so we have taken our time with her,” Miladinovic said.

“She has the best legs of the lot so hopefully she will be fine. I’m hoping she can get up to 2000 metres and eventually run in some nice cup races.”

Gentle Annie and stablemate Kopaonik have won four races for Miladinovic in recent times with jockey Kayla Nisbet in charge for three of those.

Miladinovic had Gentle Annie accepted for a race at Canterbury Park during the week, but elected to scratch keeping the mare to slightly easier company for the time being. If she runs up to her last start win at the Sapphire Coast, Gentle Annie can make it three straight wins, according to her trainer.

“She came from nowhere to win. You would have given up on her at the home turn, but she just kept going,” he said. “I think she is well enough weighted even though she only drops a kilo on her last win.”

Meanwhile, five first-up performers will put their records on the line in the Merimbula Sprint. Stablemates She Zar and Marque as well as Janis, Brimstone and Uno Best will all resume over 1200 metres. Brimstone excels at the track winning seven of her 21 starts, while She Zar is unbeaten in three runs at the course.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Sapphire Coast here