'Minnie Mouse' is ready to roar

"When I was young my grandma wrote me a two-page letter about how bad an idea it was to become a jockey. My father tried to disown me, but my mother was supportive and I had this desire to do it which came from deep inside me."

The truth is that Julie Krone isn't just the best female jockey of all time. History proves that she is one of the best jockeys of any sex over the last 20 years, and success on Saturday night could take her to an even higher level.

Leading California trainer Richard Mandella sums up the natural poise which sets Krone apart in the saddle.

He said: "When Julie Krone rides, she looks like someone took wax and melted it over the horse. The first day I saw her I just knew she was going to be phenomenal."

And phenomenal isn't too strong a word to describe the two parts of Krone's career.

The first yielded well over 3,000 winners achieved largely on the East Coast before the wear and tear of race riding forced her into retirement in 1999. And the second, which has seen her based on the ultra-competitive California circuit since last year, is proving much more than an Indian Summer.

A lot happened to Krone during her thre e - year absence from the track. Marriage to the leading American racing writer Jay Hovdey brought a new perspective, while a subsequent miscarriage-brought an altogether darker one. No-one knows whether Krone would have started on phase two of her career had her pregnancy run its full course.

What can be said is that Krone has returned to her first love as good as ever.

She has three booked rides at Saturday's meeting, but the unbeaten Halfbridled and the rags-to-riches Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide are what she calls her "standouts".

"Halfbridled goes for the Juvenile Fillies' race and she can really run," she said.

"She's the sort of filly who has an aloof attitude to people, but she also has an incredible turn of foot."

Forecast odds of about even money for Halfbridled isn't going to make Krone followers rich, but Funny Cide is a much bigger price for the $4m Classic and could be a surprise packet according to his confident rider.