Racing her way back to her best

AN OMINOUS warning has been issued to prospective rivals following Im Ready Jet's victory during the weekend.

Despite proving too good in the Derby Royale Free-For-All in Shepparton on Saturday night, the squaregaiter is short of her peak according to trainer Anton Golino.

With the Great Southern Star earmarked as the mare's main target, Golino stated Im Ready Jet is "racing her way back to her best".

Australasia's premier trotting event, the GSS - which consists of heats and a Final on the same night - is scheduled to be conducted in Melton on February 3.

Im Ready Jet won a GSS heat last season before finishing third in the Final, having also filled the minor placing in the 2022 Final.

"She is not there yet, but is racing her way back to her best," Golino said. "That was a good run from her on Saturday night and she will benefit from it.

"I'll put her around again on Saturday night in Ballarat and see how she goes in that before deciding whether to wait for the Great Southern Star a fortnight later or head to Melton in between."

With regular driver Nathan Jack in the cart during her latest triumph, Im Ready Jet was caught wide early from barrier seven before gaining the ideal one-one trail.

Taken three-wide along the back straight, the daughter of Quaker Jet sustained a strong sprint to score by three-and-a-half metres from Kyvalley Hotspur.

Illawong Stardust was four-and-a-half metres away third in 2:00.9 over 2190 metres.