Glen Boss knew star Sydney filly Samantha Miss had the physical requirements to run a big race in the Cox Plate before he rode her for the first time at Moonee Valley.But after learning a bit more about her, he is also convinced she has the mental attributes."I've seen her race, so I know what she can do," Boss said."My first impressions after riding her are that she's very athletic, very clean-winded."The big thing though is that she's also very, very sensible."She looks an intelligent three-ye

Glen Boss knew star Sydney filly Samantha Miss had the physical requirements to run a big race in the Cox Plate before he rode her for the first time at Moonee Valley.

But after learning a bit more about her, he is also convinced she has the mental attributes.

"I've seen her race, so I know what she can do," Boss said.

"My first impressions after riding her are that she's very athletic, very clean-winded.

"The big thing though is that she's also very, very sensible.

"She looks an intelligent three-year-old."

Boss said the ability to cope with raceday pressure at a track different to any other would be vital to Samantha Miss's prospects.

"It's more the atmosphere on the day that gets them," he said.

"Not so much the race itself, the horses don't care, it's just a race to them, they've got no idea.

"But it's high pressure with a lot of people here, a big day, they walk into this amphitheatre and young horses can lose it.

"But she looks very relaxed, so perhaps that's the key that'll take her a long way."

Boss steered Samantha Miss safely around the Valley in a leisurely piece of work over 1200m, finishing off with a strong canter up the straight.

He also dismissed any notion that Moonee Valley presented any special problems for a horse unfamiliar with the track.

"The thing here is that when you ask them to go, it is slightly uphill and that's very good for them," he said.

"But the best thing here is that the camber on the home turn forces them onto the right leg."

Trainer Kris Lees also liked what he saw.

"She's fit and well and still on the way up," Lees said.

"She handles whatever we throw at her."

Samantha Miss will return to Moonee Valley on Saturday morning for another gallop, but Lees said he would not work the filly at next Tuesday's Breakfast With The Best gallops at the track.

He said Saturday's work would be her main pre-race gallop and he would be looking for a stronger effort.

Lees also expressed confidence in the Cox Plate program Boss has set himself in order to ride Samantha Miss at 47.5kg.

Boss said he had begun an exhaustive exercise and diet program and Lees has no other rider on standby if he can't make the weight.

"I haven't got any doubt Glen will be right," Lees said.

"I'd be fine with a half a kilo over, but he seems to think he'll be right."