Last season's South Island Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes winner is the top weight in the rating 90 1200m. The distance is no concern - she has won twice and placed three times from seven cracks at 1200m - but her co-trainer, Shane Anderton, does have a worry about the weight.
She will lug 58kg if apprentice jockey Jacob Lowry is able to claim his 2kg allowance, so an improving track would be a big help to the 5yr-old.
Lowry told the NZ Racing Desk he had enjoyed a brief spell away from riding.
``It got to the point where I was dragging my feet, but it's worked well and I'm feeling a lot better,'' he said.
``I'm still walking about 60kg and that's why I've only taken the one ride, but I'll be working hard and it should come down in the coming weeks, particularly as the weather gets warmer.''
The Gore track improved yesterday from slow7 to dead6, which will help the diminutive mare to get across the turf.
``She's solid enough, but she's only 15 hands high,'' Anderton said.
``She's only a little horse so she's got a decent old bit of weight to carry around. Whatever she does, she can improve on, but she's going along nice at the moment.''
Coulee climbed rapidly through the ratings last season, starting on 65 points before five wins and three placings pushed her up to 90 by the time she prevailed in the South Island Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes on April 2.
The other mares' feature race in the South Island - the group 3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders' Stakes on November 9 - now looms as a likely target for the daughter of Gallant Guru.
``We'll probably look at something like the Valachi,'' Anderton said.
``We'll see how she comes up, but it would be a good race for her, everything going right.
``We'll get this one out of the way then we'll plan something else after that.''
Gallant Boy joins Coulee in the sprint trip tomorrow. Anderton said the 6yr-old would certainly need the run.
``He's still hanging on to his coat and he's not looking 100% yet but he's done enough work and he's got to go to the races for us to get a line on where to go this season.''
Gallant Boy and Coulee are two of five fresh-up runners for the Andertons today.
Willow (race 5), Quartet (race 6) and Waylay (race 8) should all relish the firmer tracks to make their season debuts.
``Wingatui was heavy11 and we didn't want to kick off them there. At this time of year, it's about trying to find a decent bit of ground,'' Anderton said.
``They're all going along all right. I`m quite happy with the lot of them.''
Itemize (race 7) has a fresh-up run for fourth at Wingatui two weeks ago under his belt. - Additional reporting NZ Racing Desk
