An "emotional" Peter Brown will be cheering on from his Bar Beach home when In Her Time finishes up a stellar racing career at Rosehill on Saturday.
Coronavirus restrictions mean Brown, part owner of the seven-year-old mare with Hong Kong-based Orbis Bloodstock, won't be trackside for her farewell but the Novocastrian hopes jockey Hugh Bowman still salutes after the group 3 Hawkesbury Crown (1300 metres).
This event shapes as the last hurrah for Kris Lees-trained In Her Time, bound for next month's elite Chairman's Sale, having recovered well and backing up from a fifth in the group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on the weekend.
"If she won on Saturday we would have retired her then," Brown told the Newcastle Herald. "We want her to go out running well. She did run well [last start] but she's in great condition, we have Hugh Bowman on board and we thought why not have one more roll of the dice."
Twice a group 1 winner, In Her Time hasn't previously run consecutive meetings but Brown said he was confident in the star sprinter's form after the way she rounded out her most recent outing. Having been checked during the early stages of the race, In Her Time came from last place on the final bend and overtook half the field down the straight en route to the finish post.
"She run the fastest last 600m of the day," Brown said.
"Better than Tofane, Pierata and Santa Ana Lane in the group 1 [race prior]."
Lees has nominated In Her Time for both the Crown and listed Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday, leaning towards the former being weighted a kilogram lighter at 60kg.
"Under the set weights and penalties conditions of the Crown, she is well treated," Lees told Racing NSW.
"She didn't have a gut-busting run last Saturday and has pulled up well. Hopefully, we can send her out a winner."
In Her Time was sixth in the group 1 Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 20 and eighth in the group 1 TJ Smith (1200m) at Randwick on April 4, but Brown said the COVID-19 outbreak had altered the mare's original plan to finish with the group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at South Australia's Morphettville on May 2.
Brown said In Her Time, with almost $4 million in prizemoney from 30 career starts since 2015, was "pretty special" and it would be "quite emotional" watching from afar this weekend.
Along with In Her Time, a $4.50 fixed odds favourite with TAB.com.au on Tuesday night, Broadmeadow-based Lees has also nominated Asharani for the Crown.
Elsewhere on the Sydney card Graff, Tactical Advantage and Agent Pippa are all down for the Gold Rush, but Lees is yet to confirm runners in the Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) and Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m).
Regimental Band and Sorrentina have been put forward for the Guineas. Aliferous and Articus, also linked to Sunday's Showcase Cup (1400m) in Tamworth, are his Gold Cup chances.
Meanwhile, fellow Newcastle trainer Paul Perry bookended Scone's meeting on Tuesday with Mary Magpie claiming the first and Cool World taking out the last.
There's a seven-race card scheduled for Newcastle on Thursday.
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