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By Ray Hickson

Daysee Doom means so much to Sydney’s champion apprentice Andrew Adkins he doesn’t let anyone else on her back.

It’s not really a surprise that the 20-year-old has a soft spot for the mare, he’s won more races on her than any other horse including one of his four career stakes wins to date.

The pair will be chasing another feature win at Rosehill on Saturday in the Group 2 $400,000 Golden Pendant (1400m).

“She’s pretty close to me, I’ve definitely got a soft spot, she’s a trier and always puts in for me,’’ Adkins said.

”She’s like my little best friend.’’

Adkins has ridden Daysee Doom in 11 of her 13 starts and this preparation he’s taken over the role of her trackwork rider for his master Ron Quinton.

He also partners stablemate and Golden Pendant runner Dixie Blossoms in her work but there’s never been any question about who he’d ride on race day.

”Dixie is a nice mare as well and she has the ability to take out these races, but I ride Daysee everywhere,’’ he said.

“This preparation she seems to have come back a bit stronger and a bit more determined.

“She’s always had that will to win but she seems to have strengthened up and is really attacking the line.’’

Daysee Doom resumed with an eye-catching third in the Sheraco Stakes (1200m) on September 9 after she was burnt off in the early stages of the race.

The Punter’s Intel data shows Daysee Doom was one of only three mares in the Sheraco to break 11 seconds for her last 200m, running an equal race best 10.96, and her last 600m of 33.10 was second only to Omei Sword.

Adkins is expecting to settle the five-year-old mare a lot closer now she’s up to 1400m despite drawing a tricky barrier.

“They were a little bit nippy for her first-up,’’ he said.

“She came out a little awkward and they got a bit tight when they jumped, she probably didn’t appreciate that but it was 1200m and she was always going end up back somewhere.

“You’ve got two of Gai’s in this race and they will most likely go forward so I’ll try to slide across and land in the one-one if I can.’’

Both Daysee Doom and Dixie Blossoms are expected to tackle the Group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 7 before heading south for a Group 1 assignment.

Adkins, who easily won the champion apprentices title last season, has decided to extend his apprenticeship with Quinton for another three months beyond its November expiry date.

“I still have a (1.5kg) claim left so I thought I might as well use it for a bit longer and while the carnivals are on it’s a help,’’ he said.

Check out the fields and form for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday