All hands were on deck for Caulfield Cup hope Single Gaze's first Melbourne appearance in a Caulfield jumpout on Tuesday morning.
Last year's Vinery Stud Stakes winner arrived in Melbourne on Friday for her spring campaign, which will begin in Saturday week's Group I Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
A severe case of the flu stopped Canberra trainer Nick Olive from making the trip to Melbourne but part-owner Martin Hay headed south from Gundagai to assist travelling foreman Billy Owen with Single Gaze.
The locals noted Single Gaze's small frame but the mare pleased jockey Kathy O'Hara, who travelled from Sydney to partner the mare in the jumpout on the course proper.
O'Hara noted Single Gaze had no trouble with the Melbourne way of going and the Caulfield track but added the winner of more than $1.5 million in stakes wasn't put under any pressure in the 800m hit-out.
"I was really happy with it and she took to it like a duck to water with the way she came around the corner," O'Hara said.
"She wasn't flat out coming around the corner but she leaned right into it so I'm pretty pleased with her.
"She seems pretty natural on that leg. She has taken to it well and seems happy on that leg so it shouldn't be a problem racing that way around.
"She only came down on Friday and has only been here a few days so she's still settling in. This morning was to let her stretch her legs but not put too much pressure on her."
Hay said Single Gaze's program was likely to take in the Memsie, Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield and the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) in the lead-up to the Caulfield Cup.
O'Hara said Single Gaze had plenty of improvement in her but could have another jumpout at Caulfield next Tuesday.
"I'm not sure whether they may or may not do another one next week but it was all about giving her a look at the track," O'Hara said.
"She has got some pretty big races lined up for her.
"She has got plenty of improvement left in her still but she's got a long campaign ahead of her so bearing that in mind, all things are going really well."
Click here for the replay of Single Gaze's effort in her jumpout. O'Hara is wearing Olive's blue and red colours.
