The Seasoned Star mare has found form in an emphatic way, winning at Omakau, Gore, Wingatui and Invercargill this year, but Carter, who trains the mare on the Ascot Park track, is not all that surprised.
''She's always shown the ability but it's just that things didn't go her way,'' he said.
His thoughts are backed up by the statistics. She recorded 10 placings in her first 16 starts to go along with her debut win at Wyndham in late 2011.
The seven-horse field in the $12,000 2030m open handicap also helps the mare, who is adaptable in her racing style, giving jockey Darryl Bradley choices when the barriers crash open.
''I'll leave it up to Darryl, but he has several options,'' Carter said.
''A lot depends on who's in front but she can do both - she can either go to the front or sit back.''
Carter has big plans for the 5yr-old in the coming months. The $50,000 Riverton Cup on March 30 is a target close to home, while the $100,000 Canterbury Gold Cup on April 20, the group 2 Travis Stakes at Te Rapa and the Rotorua Cup on May 11 could combine to make a pretty exciting road trip for Carter.
''We'll just take each race as it comes, though.''
The weight allowance for mares helps Elite Street tomorrow. The mare will only carry 55.5kg, compared with Our Bee Jay, who was assigned 59kg. Our Bee Jay's trainer, Lisa Vaughan, has countered that top weight by engaging apprentice jockey Ashley Frye, who can claim 3kg.
Miss Millbrook should take improvement from her seventh at Wingatui on Saturday for trainer Terry Kennedy and has drawn the inside, allowing Chris Johnson to save ground if he wants.
Sharon Evans is back in the saddle
after almost 2 years away from race riding. Evans, who is the deputy principal at Gorge Road School, is keen to get back into regular riding, but she had a good excuse for not having a crack since she won at her last race day ride at Gore on October 11, 2010.
''The reason I had a break was I was building a house with my father,'' Evans said.
Evans works six mornings a week for trainer Kelly Thompson, but had been giving Jim Curran a hand when he offered her the ride on Willie Roydon, who was a fresh-up second at Ascot Park on February 18.
Direen suspendedApprentice Toni Direen was suspended for two riding days in relation to her ride in race 2 at the Ashburton meeting yesterday.
Direen admitted allowing her mount, Heaven Sent, to shift in, checking Ya Dreamin Jonesy inside the final 250m.
Direen is suspended from Monday to March 23 inclusive.
Updates
Additional information for meetings today.-
M2 Waikato RC
Scratching
Race 5: Over And Above
Weather, fine; track, dead (4); rail out 7m.
M4 Wellington RC
Riders:
Race 8: Jaggard - Vinnie Colgan
Scratchings:
Race 1: Zedetta
Race 2: Firekeeper
Weather, overcast; track, good (3), rail in true position.
M7 Winton HRC
Scratchings:
Race 4: McArdle Meg
NZ quinella
New Zealand-trained trotters Vulcan and Stig provided the quinella in the $125,000 Australian Trotting Grand Prix at Melton last night. Vulcan, trained by Tim Butt, ran the 2240m mobile in 2.47. The Fiery Ginga, trained by Alan Clark, was fifth.
