See You In Heaven a better horse ahead of another Group 1 tilt in Empire Rose Stakes

A winner of five Group races, See You In Heaven finished 10th in last year’s Toorak Handicap, but returns to the top level a better horse according to trainer Richard Jolly.

“She’s a bit better than she was then (last year) to be honest, we were having a few little troubles that preparation, this preparation has been trouble free,” Jolly, who trains in partnership with daughter, Chantelle, said.

“I’d say as a whole, she’s better than she was 12 months ago at the same stage.”

The Empire Rose Stakes has long been earmarked as the five-year-old’s grand final this spring, after she resumed first-up with an impressive win in the Behemoth Stakes at Morphettville.

• Rutten thriving in her quest to ‘be the best'

After a below par run in the Leon Macdonald Stakes, the daughter of Divine Prophet has ran well in her two recent Melbourne runs, last-start she finished third in the Catanach’s 150 Years Vase at Caulfield.

“We were pleased (with the run), she was going a month between runs into it, she sat on a fast tempo and just felt the pinch late,” he said.

“A three-week break now again into the mile, I think we’ve got her spot on – as good as we can get her anyway.

“She was set for this race, everything has gone to plan, we’ve just got to get there and hope she can acquit herself well.”

A return to Flemington on Derby Day will suit See You In Heaven, the mare won there on debut in the 2021 Ottawa Stakes.

Any presence of rain would also be a boost to her chances, with the track currently rated a Good 4.

“A little bit of rain would help, I think they’ve forecast a few showers, we don’t want a hard track to be honest, if we get any rain that will help her chances,” he said.

• Trainer declares raider ‘best horse' in Golden Eagle field

While the mare has been piloted by Craig Williams and Jamie Kah in her past two runs, Adelaide premiership-winning hoop Jake Toeroek travels across to reunite with the mare on Saturday.

“We thought it was appropriate to give Jake a chance,” Jolly said.

“We didn’t want to be putting anyone else on that hadn’t ridden her before going into a Group 1.”

Jolly also has talented sprinters Aviatress and Karavas set to tackle feature races at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week, with Aviatress, who won the Northwood Plume Stakes at Caulfield last-start, tackling the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) on Cup Day.

Karavas will line up in the Red Roses Stakes (1100m) on Oaks Day.

“We’ve always had a bit of luck on Cup Week, with our runners winning a few races in the last 10 years or so,” he said.

“We hope to keep it going.”

See You In Heaven is a $46 chance with Sportsbet in Saturday’s Empire Rose Stakes.

Originally published as See You In Heaven a better horse ahead of another Group 1 tilt in Empire Rose Stakes