After partnering with Imperatriz in her Monday morning workout, jockey Michael Dee is well aware of the formidable challenge he faces when he takes the reins on Espiona in the upcoming Black Caviar Lightning Stakes on Saturday.
Trained by Chris Waller, the five-year-old Espiona is gearing up for her first-ever start over 1000m. Dee, expressing confidence in the mare's fitness and readiness for the sprint distance, shared his insights with Racing.com, saying, “She's fit, she's fresh for the 1000 metres, so if Imperatriz isn't winning, I am sure Espiona is one of them that can run her down.”
Acknowledging the competitive nature of the field, Dee emphasized the strength of the contenders despite the expected small size.
“It looks like it's only going to be a small field, but a strong field at that, and you could make a case for every horse in the race,” he added, highlighting the level of competition in the upcoming event.