By Adam Pengilly
John Bateman believes Lucy Longmire should be pitching up for two Highway Handicap wins, not watching her twin, Emma, and the trainer himself basking in the Goulburn glow.
"She [Lucy] rides Erika in most of her work and she rides Thunder Road in most of his work," said Bateman, who will bring his recent Highway Handicap winner, Erika, back to Rosehill on Saturday.
"I said to her, 'you should have put your hand up and said I've had two Highway winners in two weeks'. She rides them all."
Lucy's own Highway Handicap hope, Percivale, struggled in the heavy going at Randwick last week as Emma, who previously forged a career in the Australian Army, enjoyed the spoils with long-shot winner Thunder Road.
Winning double: Trainer Emma Longmire after her horse Thunder Road won the TAB Highway Handicap at Randwick.Credit: bradleyphotos.com.au
Bateman will fly the flag for the Goulburn crew again in Sydney, but this time will vault Erika into a race not restricted to country-trained horses.
A crippling cold snap across the region has rendered Goulburn's grass track unsuitable for work, but Bateman isn't concerned Erika's fitness will be left wanting at the end of the 2000 metres.
"I think it's a really good concept and even trainers that would never think about heading that way are saying, 'it's only a class 2' and are getting their chance in town," Bateman said of the Highway Handicap stepping stone.
"If it had been 2000m the other day I reckon she would have run it right out. After she's had the 1800m under her belt with a bit of natural improvement [she should be hard to beat].
"Mares can hold their form when they get to where she is. She's pretty fit now and she's only really missed one day [of work due to the weather] and it's not a major concern."
Bateman's trusted saddle star Blake Shinn has been forced to relinquish the ride through suspension, paving the way for connections to book Tommy Berry.
Ladbrokes listed Erika an $8 chance for the Rosehill fourth with Esteban topping markets at $4.60 as Bateman seeks to enhance his small stable's reputation in the big smoke.
"We couldn't get Blake because he's suspended, but we've got Tommy so we don't think we've taken a backward step ... we just think we've taken a sidewards step," Bateman said.
"She's done really well in the stable and is pleasing – and it's the only reason she's backing up a fortnight later. I think she gets a bit of weight relief as well this week. Her and Lofty's [Menu] have been terrific and Jamie Walter from Proven Thoroughbreds has been fantastic [support]."