Quality 5YO in good order for Randwick return
Francaletta has been making all the right moves ahead of her Australian debut in Saturday’s Group 2 Guy Walter Proven Thoroughbreds Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
“She’s very well and her work has been great,” said owner Lib Petagna’s racing manager Bruce Perry.
Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and to be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Francaletta has drawn the outside gate but that isn’t expected to alter her usual pattern of racing on the pace.
“I’d say she’ll go forward and hopefully she’ll get a reasonably soft trip,” Perry said.
Francaletta has won six of her nine starts, including the Group 3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in the spring.
She then finished runner-up in the Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) before a break and has trialled twice to ready her for her return.
High hopes for Felaar
Another bold showing is expected from the progressive stayer Felaar at Auckland on Saturday.
“He’s got a good draw, he likes Ellerslie and in Rating 65 company he looks very hard to beat,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.
Felaar will be ridden by Danielle Johnson in the Headquarters Viaduct 2100m and she will also ride stablemates Ruud Not Too (Go Racing Syndications 1400,) Insight (Group 3 McKee Family Sunline Vase) and Pierrocity (New Zealand Herald 1400m).
“Ruud Not Too is a Group 2 winner and in a Rating 85 race on a good track she can bounce back,” Marsh said.
“Insight had a blood issue that came right pretty quickly, but we are a little behind the eight ball with her and Pierrocity is another exciting filly who’s much stronger now.
“We really like her and she’s going to improve, but she’ll run a cheeky race.”
Pierrocity will be opposed by barn mate Rube Bridges, who will be ridden by Jason Waddell.
“She’s the most luckless runner in the stable,” Marsh said.
“She pulled a plate last time and had a heart fibrillation, but she’s good now and she also likes Ellerslie.”
Cup beckons Kiwi mare
New Zealand mare Fanatic is chasing a Group 2 start in the Adelaide Cup (3200m).
Raced by Taranaki breeder Sean Kiernan, the daughter of Shocking will put her credentials on the line in Saturday’s Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington.
Co-trainer Tom Dabernig said the stable had considered taking her straight to Adelaide following her last-start fifth in the Torney Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley last month.
“Initially we were contemplating going straight there, but when we saw this race and the smallish field we thought it was worth having a go at.”
“She really hit form in the spring deep into her preparation which gave us the confidence that we could run here and then go to Adelaide.
“Her two runs back have been acceptable and we’ll be looking for a bit more from her on Saturday. On her best form an Adelaide Cup would be well within her reach.”