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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Deanne Panya is preparing to ride in her second $1 million race, seven years after her last, and hopes Willaidow can lay the perfect platform at Rosehill on Saturday.

Jockey Deanne Panya (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The gelding qualified for next month’s $1m Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) when he held second, after hitting the front at the 200m, behind Territory Express at Kembla a month ago and has been encouraged by the form around the horse.

Territory Express was then narrowly beaten in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes two weeks ago while Willaidow’s previous win was over Gently Rolled who has since won two Saturday races.

So that gives Panya confidence Willaidow will be more than competitive in his final lead up before the Championships in the HKJC World Pool Handicap (1400m).

“Watching Territory Express run so well after made it that little bit extra good,’’ Payna said.

“I think that day going that extra 200m he might have been a little vulnerable. Even though he’s already been over 1400m-1500m and won but he had a long time between runs he could have been a little soft late.

“He’ll be fitter and stronger now he’s run 1400m this prep.

“He tries hard all the time and he’s a pretty competitive horse. At trackwork he’s pretty laid back and lazy, he definitely saves himself for race day.”

Panya returned to race riding just over a year ago following the birth of her daughter Ruby in 2021 and Willaidow has been a big part of her comeback.

The Marc Conners-trained galloper, $3.70 with TAB on Friday and $15 in the Championships Final, was Panya’s first trial and race ride back and she’s looking forward to getting to Randwick in two weeks to chase her biggest win since 2017.

That was as an apprentice when she partnered Testashadow to victory in the $1 million Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast.

She said Willaidow is a great horse to ride as he makes his own luck and while she’d love him to win again she just wants a positive pointer to the April 13 grand final.

“He doesn’t have to win to give us an extra boost in confidence for the Final, but if we can win that would be great,’’ she said.

“Just like to see him run well and as enthusiastically as he has been.

“Everything has got to go right but he makes his own luck by coming out as quickly as he does and putting himself there.

“I can’t fault him at home, he’s feeling well and I’m definitely going in confident.”

Willaidow runs second at Kembla on February 29

It’ll be a busy day for Panya as she’ll be in Wyong earlier in the day to ride Du Cap for Clarry Coners in the ARY Super Plate (1000m), run at 2.35pm, before hitting the road to ride in the last at Rosehill.

“She’s only had one start but I’ve galloped her a couple of times for Clarry, she seems to be going all right,’’ she said.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting