Labycka can beat them on Wednesday

LABYCKA deserves another chance at a mile on Wednesday. The filly was thrown in at the deep end of the pool, after only two starts, and drilled at exercise for a fishing expedition in the Jamaica Oaks, which was won from the moment SHE'S A WONDER was entered.

After beating maidens by almost 10 lengths on July 12, LABYCKA underwent a training frenzy for the August 7 Oaks, including a 12-furlong canter and 13 furlongs worth of speed gallops in six days - 1:31.2 and 1:16.2 for seven and six furlongs, respectively, starting from canters at the furlong pole on both occasions.

For a filly that had only debuted on June 28, lightly trained, resulting in a three-quarter length loss to MIDNIGHT BLUE at six furlongs, LABYCKA entered the Oaks as the least experienced but one of the most drilled runners.

Fractious at the gate as usual, LABYCKA's habit of being slowly away only compounded matters for the inexperienced runner, who never recovered and finished down the track.

Returning at a mile among non-winners of two races, LABYCKA's training has been tapered down, an easy 1:04.0 for five furlongs out the backstretch chute. Reporting at a featherweight 105lb, with claiming rider Jordan Barrett, LABYCKA will be running 21lb lighter than her ill-advised Oaks venture and 16lb less than when she had clocked 1:27.2 for seven furlongs on July 12.

Though facing the likes of colts such as IT'S A BOY and KING ANTHOLEW, who were third and fourth, respectively, behind United States-bred I AM FRED and speedy BATON ROUGE at six and a half furlongs recently, LABYCKA has the handicaps in her favour to steal a march on the boys.

Another filly to watch is SWEET MAJESTY, who ran a big race in the Oaks, improving into second behind SHE'S A WONDER entering the home run before fading into fifth. SWEET MAJESTY has a good turn of foot, which will suit her well at the distance, having won her only race at seven and a half furlongs.

However, she too is giving away too much weight, 10lb, to LABYCKA, who, if not too slowly away, should use her pace and lightweight to slip the field and last home.