Allaboutus will be striving to break a 27-year hoodoo for mares when she chases her first black-type success in the Listed Winter Stakes at Rosehill.In a race that has been dominated by geldings in recent years, the last mare to win the 1500-metre feature was the Tommy Smith-trained Ngaiambin in 1982.Four mares will line up on Saturday including Allaboutus who was beaten less than a length when a last-start fifth to Limani over 1300 metres at Rosehill."She probably jumps up another level on Satu
Allaboutus will be striving to break a 27-year hoodoo for mares when she chases her first black-type success in the Listed Winter Stakes at Rosehill.
In a race that has been dominated by geldings in recent years, the last mare to win the 1500-metre feature was the Tommy Smith-trained Ngaiambin in 1982.
Four mares will line up on Saturday including Allaboutus who was beaten less than a length when a last-start fifth to Limani over 1300 metres at Rosehill.
"She probably jumps up another level on Saturday but she has been Group Three-placed before," trainer Greg Hickman said.
"Her biggest problem has been getting out of the gates so we're going to really rev her up this weekend.
"She won't necessarily be going forward but we just want her to jump cleanly."
Allaboutus finished third to Throne Inn in the 2008 Group Three Birthday Card Stakes and has returned in great order this campaign, scoring a win over Winter Stakes rival Parfumier first-up in May.
She followed it with a close fourth to Imtops, beaten just over half a length, and her fifth to Limani.
While she steps up in grade on Saturday she does drop five kilos in weight to 53kg, although Hickman is miffed at how 11 of the 14 runners have been weighted on the minimum.
"It's a funny weighted race," he said.
"I find the current system really confusing.
"If all the horses on 53 were in a separate race, they wouldn't all be on 53."
Grant Buckley has ridden Allaboutus in all three starts this campaign and will again be aboard on Saturday.
The Winter Stakes hopeful will spearhead a team of four runners for Hickman who celebrated a win at Warwick Farm on Tuesday with Justifier.
He will also be represented by Ausworld in the Sydney Markets Limited Hcp (1500m), Enarelle in the Lynch Flowers Hcp (1300m) and debutante Speedy Star in the N&A Group Hcp (1100m) for two-year-old fillies.
Speedy Star is raced by Stuart Ramsey who has enjoyed success with the likes of Group One winner Cinque Cento.
The filly won her most recent trial at Randwick and was scratched from Canterbury on Wednesday after drawing awkwardly.
"Chris Munce rode her in the trial and said she's a nice filly, she just needs time to strengthen up a bit," Hickman said.
"But she did run nice time."
Staying mare Enarelle is first-up but Hickman says she has come back in good order and will be doing her best work late, while he will have extra incentive to win with Ausworld as his daughter Jacqueline is a part-owner.
"She doesn't get to the races a lot but she enjoys it when the money goes in her bank account," Hickman said.