Catch Uncaptured Empress if you can

UNITED STATES-BRED UNCAPTURED EMPRESS appears back to form, having struck the right chord among local-breds, non-winners of three races, when finishing second behind POWER FROM ABOVE at a mile on March 24.

A four-year-old who appears best at middle-distances, UNCAPTURED EMPRESS ran into thick traffic after getting off the mark among local-breds, non-winners of two races, landing the Independence Day Stakes Trophy at seven furlongs last August.a

Clocking a decent 1:28.4, then three-year-old UNCAPTURED EMPRESS drew four lengths clear a furlong out, eventually beating NORBLAR by a length with in-utero GEOLITHIC a further three behind.

NORBLAR and GEOLITHIC have since franked the form of that race with victories, suggesting that UNCAPTURED EMPRESS should have long graduated to, at least, overnight allowance.

However, a three-race foray into events mixing imported non-winners of two races alongside local-breds - three and four-year-olds, non-winners-of-four races – set UNCAPTURED EMPRESS against speedsters such as BOOTYLICIOUS and talented United States-bred DESERT OF MALIBU. Venturing outside her comfort zone, going nine furlongs and 25 yards, saw UNCAPTURED EMPRESS finishing last on her third attempt at the level.

Returning a rung lower among non-winners of three races on New Year’s Day, UNCAPTURED EMPRESS finished a close-enough fifth behind five-furlong straight specialist VOLATILITY. After that encouraging effort, UNCAPTURED EMPRESS oddly returned minus blinkers at five and a half furlongs off the lay-up on March 16, finishing down the track without the equipment he had worn when winning at seven furlongs.

Blinkers were refitted eight days later, with six-time champion jockey Omar Walker replacing Shane Richardson, UNCAPTURED EMPRESS reporting sharp as a razor but caught inside the final half-furlong furlong by POWER FROM ABOVE after slicing through the field down the backstretch and straightening four lengths clear.

Trainer Peter McMaster has ditched the blinkers for a visor, giving UNCAPTURED EMPRESS peepholes, which should make her alert to incoming danger. It will be catch her if you can again, with Walker back aboard.