"She's a good chance in what looks to be a competitive race" was Jason Deamer's summation of Christmas Commands, who is set to resume her racing career at Cessnock on Tuesday.
The four-year-old mare steps out in the Jurds Real Estate Class 2 Handicap (900m).
Christmas Commands hasn't raced for 200 days since winning a 1000-metre Class 1 Handicap at Muswellbrook on November 27 last year.
That was her second career win after scoring first-up last campaign in a 900m maiden at Scone on October 27 following a 161-day spell.
Christmas Commands has been a horse slow to mature. Every spell has helped her grow into her large frame.
"She didn't race as a two-year-old. We just gave her time to mature," Deamer recalled. "She's had a few niggling problems along the way. They're things you've just got to manage.
"She's 16 plus hands, a big heavy thing."
Christmas Commands was secured as a yearling for a meagre $10,000 at the Scone yearling sales.
The mare is raced by a syndicate of mainly Newcastle locals headed by Luke Brown.
Deamer has been pleased with the mare since she returned from a lengthy lay-off.
"She's done good," Deamer said. "She's had a good long spell which has helped her.
"She's had a couple of jump outs and she's fit and ready to go."
The daughter of Commands is blessed with good early pace and Deamer plans to take advantage of her ideal barrier one on Tuesday.
"She's got good gate speed but doesn't have to lead," Deamer reasoned. "We'll let her jump out and see what happens but if she jumps well as expected we'll hold our position.
"I'm happy with the way she's going."
Andrew Gibbons has the mount.
