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By Ray Hickson

It was unlike usually consistent mare It’s A Knockout to blot her copybook at the end of her early autumn campaign but there’s a touch of confidence from the Ciaron Maher stable she can get back on track at Randwick on Saturday.

Johann Gerard-Dubord (Pic: Bradley Photos)

It’s A Knockout won two of her three starts in her first preparation then kicked off in February with a narrow defeat behind stakes performer Dark Glitter and a Group 3 placing over the Randwick mile.

But Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said there were excuses for her two subsequent unplaced efforts and she can be expected to run well fresh in the Traffic Warden @ Darley Handicap (1400m).

“Her first two runs last prep were very good and I think a combination of going up in trip (to 1900m) in the Epona and running a bit too soon was against her,’’ he said.

“Last start she worked from the gates and they went very quick so it was a forgive run.

“She didn’t have long out, only two weeks, and she’s been building up since. That’s why she only had the one trial and I thought the trial was good.”

The four-year-old, $10 with TAB on Thursday, contested an 800m heat at Kembla Grange two weeks ago and while 13 is not a gate Gerard-Dubord would have chosen himself he says it’s no reason to think she can’t be competitive.

“She’s always a horse that needs a bit of time between runs and we’re very happy with her,’’ he said.

“Her first-up run last prep was very good and was beaten by a mare who was stakes placed after that.

“The barrier is a bit tricky but most of the leading chances have drawn wide, she’ll need a bit of luck and we’ll probably have to be conservative but she’s going well enough.”

A race morning decision will determine whether Piggyback takes her place in the Elite Sand & Soil Handicap (1800m) or is saved for another week to put a bit more space between runs.

She was a first-up winner on a heavy 10 at Warwick Farm then was beaten in a blanket finish when third behind Shohisha two weeks ago.

“She was fairly unlucky last start, she’s a big mare with a big action but lacks a turn of foot,’’ Gerard-Dubord said.

“They went very slow and sprinted and by the time she got into stride and quickened it was all over.

“She’s not a mare that carries a whole lot of condition so we will make a call closer to Saturday whether she runs this week or we wait an extra week.

“She’s drawn well so it’s fairly attractive but we will see what the track is like on Saturday morning because she likes give in the track.”

A month between runs suits Hi Dubai going into another clash with Storm The Ramparts in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1000m) and Gerard-Dubord feels she’s in for a fruitful campaign.

The five-year-old has a 5kg swing in her favour after being beaten a length by the Joe Pride-trained gelding on May 24 which gives her a fighting chance to turn the tables.

“I thought she was good, she was still coming on condition wise and in her skin,’’ he said.

It's A Knockout runs second in a Kembla trial on June 4

“She’s taken a step forward since then. We wanted to give her a bit of time between runs then there’s a good program for her after this.

“I’d think she will be right in it. She likes Randwick, 1000m is as short as she wants and 1100m is the right trip but we're very happy with her.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting