Shane Baertschiger is more hopeful than confident that full brothers Be Bee and Be You can save the best for last in the last two events of the bumper 12-race programme this Sunday.
Fans of Auric Stable will recall how the two 'Be's' by Showcasing out of My Other Woman took the Australian handler through the highs and lows of racing at their respective last starts.
On one hand, we had Be Bee , a rising eight-year-old who is the elder by three years, turning back the clock with a first salute in 1,086 days in a Class 3 1100m race on January 8. On the other, Be You had his go at emulating big bro a fortnight later, but if there were to be any Be Bee in his performance, it was that of a Bucking Bronco!
Going off the rails like he had a bee in his bonnet, Be You didn't take long to dump jockey Matthew Kellady, who, luckily, walked away with just a slightly stung pride.
Still clueless about the out-of-character moment of madness, Baertschiger can only pray Be You will bounce back to his true self in Sunday's $50,000 Class 4 race over 1200m on turf.
"I don't know what happened. Let's hope it was just a one-off," said Baertschiger of the two-time winner he had always said had more scope than Be Bee.
"He had to pass a barrier test last week (February 3) and he went really well, no issue at all.
"If he can bring his barrier manners to the races, he's not without a say, and he's also got a good draw (two)."
Baertschiger was obviously less impressed with Be Bee's luck with the barrier Gods in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1200m on Polytrack, but was not completely ruling out another good run, and why not the buzz of another win - No 8 – for a horse he nearly offloaded to Malaysia prior to his last win.
"I'm afraid the barrier (14) has put paid to his chances," he said.
"I may have to run him further back from the front. He's facing a tougher task and it's also a stronger field.
"Still, he's in good shape and if he gets things his way, he can still run a nice race."
Both Be Bee and Be You will be partnered by Kellady, who prior to the late two assignments, will jump on two other horses for Baertschiger earlier in the day –Angel Baby in the $20,000 Open Maiden race over 1200m and one of the stable's leading horses last year – King's Command (three of his five wins were recorded in 2021) in the $70,000 Class 3 race (1400m).
Unsighted since his disappointing run in the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) in November, the Tavistock five-year-old was supposed to make his 2022 seasonal bow in a Kranji Stakes C race over the mile on January 15, but was scratched after suffering from a mini bout of colic.
"Luckily, it wasn't too serious and he's recovered quickly," said Baertschiger of the grey who is not without a powerful turn of foot.
"He's come back good and had two quiet trials. He's got a good first-up record and the Long Course will suit him.
"It's a competitive field and there'll be good speed in the race. He needs longer but the 1400m is good, there was nothing else available anyway.
"There was a Class 3 1600m on Chinese New Year day (February 2), but it was cancelled.
"The Kranji Mile is a race I'd like to set him for but he needs to win a few races to get his ratings up. He's a good horse and I thought it was worth having a throw at the stumps."
The $1 million Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) is this year staged as the first Group race to a season which will comprise two feature races less, simply because the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m) and Group 3 Merlion Trophy (1200m) were moved to the first 2023 quarter.
