Speed Camera ready for another tilt at Bathurst RSL Club Soldier's Saddle

Speed Camera will be chasing an improved performance on her 10^th placing in the 2020 edition and although form suggests that will be a tough ask Ings said there's lots to love about the Smart Missile mare's preparation.

Ings has already put a big red line right through Speed Camera's only start this preparation - a distant sixth last week at Orange.

The Soft 5 track at Towac Park didn't play to the mare's strengths on that day but a sustained dry build up to Bathurst's $32,000 feature event will have Ings confident Speed Camera will fare better.

"We had a bit of a bog at Orange the other day and she just doesn't handle wet tracks. We went there as a big chance but after the first race I probably should have pulled her out," she said.

"Our track here though is absolutely magic. It's in great order and it doesn't appear that we're going to get much rain before Sunday so everything is aligning for us, for a change.

"We took her to Goulburn for a trial where she was sensational on a good track, and then we had that Orange run. I was confident last preparation that she was right as well but she just had a nightmare prep, so with a decent track here we'll be primed for it."

Speed Camera looked at her best when running third in her trial behind Flora Bel and Murrumbidgee Cup runner-up Champagne Vega.

She'll start wide from barrier 11 in the saddle but that won't badly affect the mare's race as she often races from the rear of the field.

"Barrier position doesn't faze her, the only thing that does is the condition of the track," Ings said.

"She's very strong and happy with herself. She's the sort of horse that will pop up and say 'Right, I'm here' and we're on the right track with her.

"I think she's lot more chilled out and relaxed than she used to be - not that she was a hothead. She's much more settled now and just needs a bit of confidence and things to fall her way."

Speed Camera is one of two horses returning for another dig at the Soldier's Saddle along with Tara and Philippe Vigouroux's Zouologist.

Zouologist was a distant runner-up to last year's dominant champion Hit The Target.

Wyong trainer Tracey Bartley, who was fourth last year with Defeat, is the only trainer in the 2021 saddle to feature more than one runner (Commute and Sapphires Son).

Zouologist and Bjorn Baker's O'Mudgee enter as the top weights, Brett Thompson's Amy Shadow is the top benchmark hope.

Bathurst trainer Gayna Williams had both From The Bush and Miss Hugo A Gogo in the saddle nominations but neither feature in the final field.

Ings also has three other runners in action on saddle day - Aero Nautica, Out Now and Miss Merlin.

Aero Nautica and Dean Mirfin's De Forerunner will be the two home hopes in the $24,000 Gold Nugget 2YO Handicap (1,100m) against a field of strong provincial and city travellers.

The Bathurst RSL Club Soldier's Saddle starts at 4.26pm Sunday.

The first event starts from 1.31pm.

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