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Enver Jusufovic is trying something different with stable favourite Neighbourhood as both trainer and horse chase a maiden Stakes win in Friday’s Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
The Gr.3 feature only recently came onto the radar for the talented five-year-old, who was set to be aimed at black-type mares races during Tasmania’s Summer Carnival.
But so slick was her piece of work earlier in the week that Jusufovic decided to give Neighbourhood her chance in what, on Wednesday, turned out to be a race of only seven rivals.
The daughter of Street Boss has been freshened since gallant performances in the Gr.2 Linlithgow Stakes (1200m) and the Gr.3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m), with Jusufovic cautiously optimistic she can produce another of her trademark first-up runs on Friday.
Defiant Dancer, who is chasing five straight wins, heads Sportsbet's Standish Handicap market at $3.50, ahead of Sirius Suspect ($4.20) and topweight Graff ($6.50).
The neighborhood, who will be ridden for the first time by Daniel Moor, is rated an $18 prospect.
Jusufovic is yet to decide whether untapped sprinter Miss Albania will chase a third consecutive win at Caulfield on Saturday.
After impressive victories at Moe and The Valley, the daughter of Magnus is in the final field for the Iris O’Farrell Handicap (1100m) but Jusufovic said there was an option to run over 1000m at Caulfield in early January instead.