Miss Joelene to catch The Wave

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Kelly Schweida is hopeful Miss Joelene can confirm plans to head to the Magic Millions Subzero by ending a string of four consecutive placings in The Wave at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Schweida has tasted Magic Millions day success in the past with stable stars Plain Magic and The Odyssey and is looking for more joy on Saturday week.

Plain Magic won the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares race for Schweida in 2010 while The Odyssey won the Magic Millions QTIS race. 

Schweida has always had a high opinion of Miss Joelene who passed her staying test when third to the Ciaron Maher-trained Socks Nation in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm in June last year.

Schweida would love to have regular jockey James Orman aboard the Russian Revolution mare but the popular hoop is still sidelined. 

Tommy Berry has been called up to partner the four-year-old.

“I would have loved to have Jimmy back on her again as he knows her so well,” Schweida said.

Orman’s wife Heidi formerly raced Miss Joelene on lease in an all-women’s syndicate but the lease has now expired so she’s reverted to her original owners. 

“I think she’s probably more of a stayer nowadays but 1800 metres will suit her,” Schweida said.

“She’s better if ridden quiet and I’m sure she’ll run a big race again.

“Her run in the Queensland Oaks was great but she’ll need to race well on Saturday to go for the Subzero.”

The $1 million Subzero, named after the 1992 Melbourne Cup winner, will be run over 2200 metres at the Gold Coast on Saturday week.

Miss Joelene has placed in all four starts this campaign since running in the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm last June.

“She’s been racing well but she pulled a plate off last start at Eagle Farm,” Schweida said.

“I don’t like horses running with a plate off as they seem to race unbalanced.

“It took her three or four days to get over the run as she tore off part of her heel.

“Her run in the Tatt’s Tiara was a throw at the stumps as she was coming back from 2200 metres in the Oaks to 1400 metres but it was a Group 1 and was at the end of her campaign."