Brandy Hill trainer Sam Dimarco believes Newcastle horse of the year and group 1 winner Black Silhouette deserves a start in Saturday night's Ladyship Mile qualifier at Menangle.
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However, Dimarco is confident his star mare can run well enough first-up in race one on the program to earn a start next week in the second qualifier, the Robin Dundee Stakes.
Black Silhouette was among pacers to miss a place in the group 2 Sibelia Stakes on Saturday night, meaning she must rely on a strong run the following week to make the group 1 Ladyship Mile.
Dimarco said other NSW trainers were also left disappointed by the handicapper's call on the Sibelia Stakes.
"They seem to give the interstate horses preference, but she's a group 1 winner and she's entitled to be in it," Dimarco said. "She's got $160,000 in prizemoney and there's a few in it that haven't got anywhere near that.
"It's just disappointing, but that's racing. As long as she goes good tomorrow night, we go onto the next two weeks."
The five-year-old has not raced for almost six months and comes into Saturday night's Ladyship Stakes off two soft trials.
Dimarco said Black Silhouette, last season's 4YO mares Breeders Challenge winner, had minor problems, including illness, which delayed her return but "we feel she'll go well".
Black Silhouette will have to overcome a poor draw in eight. Singleton trainer Aaron Goadsby has Takara Truffle from gate four.
Also Saturday night, Newcastle has a nine-race program starting at 6.10pm.