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By Ray Hickson

Another shot at a stakes win appears in the near future for promising mare I Am Me with co-trainer David Eustace confident she can pass a stiff weight and distance test at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer David Eustace (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The four-year-old has been tried three times in Listed company without success - her only unplaced runs in 10 starts - but Eustace said on the evidence of her two wins this preparation she’s a stronger horse and if she can shoulder 58kg in the ATC Tree Planting For Queen’s Jubilee Handicap (1200m) she’ll have earned another shot.

I Am Me rises 4kg on her all the way win over 1100m at Rosehill two weeks ago and Eustace said having barrier one and James McDonald on their side is reason to be confident.

“We don‘t feel (1200m) will pose any issues, she’s a winner down the straight over 1100m and she relaxes pretty well so I’d be surprised if six would be an issue,’’ he said.

“We’ve managed her rating and we hope she’ll be forced into stakes company if she was able to win on Saturday.”

Only once has I Am Me, $2 favourite with TAB on Thursday, been asked to run 1200m and that was prior to a spell in the Listed Creswick Stakes at Flemington in June where she ran sixth, beaten 7.5 lengths, by Passive Aggressive.

“We feel she was probably at the end of her preparation that day,’’ he said.

“She’s going to get a cosy run, on top of the ground, she’s a more mature mare and relaxes a lot better now.”

Two progressive horses represent Eustace and co-trainer Ciaron Maher in the NJT Supports Injured And Ill Jockeys (2000m) with Worthily set to peak and Secret Glamour chasing a hat-trick.

Worthily loomed to win second-up at Rosehill three weeks ago as he moved alongside Mission Phoenix in the closing stages of an 1800m Benchmark 78 and Eustace feels it was just hard race fitness that cost him.

There’ll be no excuses on that front this time, and the gelding drops 4kg into a race that appears to have enough speed to suit him.

“We just got found out the last 50m,’’ he said.

“The winner was very brave, he’s put two excellent runs in this campaign so hopefully third-up he can strip that little bit fitter and get a lovely run from the barrier.”

Secret Glamour was responsible for a huge last to first performance in winning a Benchmark 72 two weeks ago, especially given a moderate tempo, and she could be bound for Magic Millions day on the Gold Coast if she measures up.

After the claim for Reece Jones, she'll carry just 51kg which is an 8kg drop on her last start win.

“She was terrific at Rosehill, she showed an excellent turn of foot and undoubtedly put in a career best performance,’’ Eustace said.

The Gold Coast could also beckon the enigmatic Amish Boy if he can break into the finish of the Ranvet Handicap (1400m) though Eustace said his strike rate is becoming a concern.

I Am Me wins at Rosehill on December 3

The five-year-old has only won once in 24 starts, back in March 2020, but has multiple Group placings to his name including a third in the 2021 Group 1 Newmarket Handicap.

He made some late ground to run fourth in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan (1400m) at Caulfield at his fourth run from almost 12 months off the scene and will have James McDonald in the saddle on Saturday.

“He needs to put in a performance to warrant going up there,’’ Eustace said.

“Prior to this prep he’s raced at a high level and he has been a couple of lengths below par. Hopefully the blinkers help.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting