quapi
10th October 2002, 07:27 PM
From the office of:-
THOROUGHBRED RACING S.A. LIMITED
Racing Services Officer - Jason Hickson
Telephone: 61 8 8179 9812
Facsimile: 61 8 8350 0080
Grey with big shoes to fill
October 10 – Jason Hickson
Morphettville trainer Stuart Gower will throw grey filly Sunday Shoes to the lions this weekend as she lines up for the $202,000 Group 2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield.
The three-year-old takes on some of Australia’s best sprinters in the 1000m dash but, according to Gower, will acquit herself well.
“We won’t die wondering,” Gower said. “She was entered for a three-year-old race down the straight at Flemington last Monday but had a lot of weight and drew the wrong side of the track, so we decided to keep her for this weekend.
“She rises sharply in class, obviously, but she has no weight and is a great railer. We thought we’d give it a crack and see how good she is.”
Sunday Shoes has started eight times for three wins, the latest a 4.4 length thrashing of her opposition up the 1000m straight at Victoria Park. One of those wins was an all-the-way win over 1100m at Flemington as a two-year-old.
“She’s been absolutely flying so we sent her over last Saturday week,” Gower said. “She handled the trip really well and has settled in nicely. Having no weight on her back will really help and she’s best when allowed to just bowl along.”
Gower understands the enormity of the task he has set the filly but is confident, from a good draw, she will give a bold sight.
“It’s a huge ask, but it will give us a good guide to her ability,” Gower said. “She won’t disgrace herself. She’ll be a better filly next time in, though, because she’s been a bit immature but it’s all good experience.”
After Saturday, Sunday Shoes may back up at the same track next week over 1100m, but is more likely to run up the straight over 1000m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
“She has too much speed to run 1200, so about 1000 to 1100m is best,” Gower said. “Ideally I’d like to keep her fresh and run her at Flemington, but we’ll see how she goes this weekend.”
Among the opposition on Saturday is top-line sprinter North Boy, who hasn’t raced since winning the Group 3 Krisflyer Sprint in Singapore in May.
The gelding, prepared by Tony McEvoy at Lindsay Park, was to have run first-up in the Manikato but had a set-back.
“He had a hoof abscess and took a long time to get over it,” McEvoy said. “He’s fine now, though. I’m confident he’ll run well but, after having so long off, he will certainly be improved by the run.”
North Boy ran in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas on this day last year and, having failed to finish the race off behind Lonhro, has been set for sprints since.
McEvoy’s other feature-race runner for the day, Elegant Fashion, is also returning from a set-back. She is in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap.
“She ran below par in the Craiglee Stakes and we couldn’t work out why,” McEvoy said. “But about 12 hours after the race she broke out with a rash of boils. It really knocked her about and it took its toll on her. We had to back right off then build her up again but she’s going along well now. It’s a tough race to return in but I have a lot of faith in her and I’m just hoping she runs well.”
Elegant Fashion will miss the Group 1 Caulfield Cup next weekend, and will instead either run in the Group 1 MacKinnon Stakes at Flemington on November 2 or be freshened for the Group 1 Emirates Stakes over a mile at the same track on November 7. She may then even continue on to Hong Kong in December.
“Hong Kong is a possibility,” McEvoy said. “She could either run there in the Hong Kong Mile or the Hong Kong Cup. I wouldn’t send her to (Lindsay Park principal) David Hayes, though. I’d never get her back!”
THOROUGHBRED RACING S.A. LIMITED
Racing Services Officer - Jason Hickson
Telephone: 61 8 8179 9812
Facsimile: 61 8 8350 0080
Grey with big shoes to fill
October 10 – Jason Hickson
Morphettville trainer Stuart Gower will throw grey filly Sunday Shoes to the lions this weekend as she lines up for the $202,000 Group 2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield.
The three-year-old takes on some of Australia’s best sprinters in the 1000m dash but, according to Gower, will acquit herself well.
“We won’t die wondering,” Gower said. “She was entered for a three-year-old race down the straight at Flemington last Monday but had a lot of weight and drew the wrong side of the track, so we decided to keep her for this weekend.
“She rises sharply in class, obviously, but she has no weight and is a great railer. We thought we’d give it a crack and see how good she is.”
Sunday Shoes has started eight times for three wins, the latest a 4.4 length thrashing of her opposition up the 1000m straight at Victoria Park. One of those wins was an all-the-way win over 1100m at Flemington as a two-year-old.
“She’s been absolutely flying so we sent her over last Saturday week,” Gower said. “She handled the trip really well and has settled in nicely. Having no weight on her back will really help and she’s best when allowed to just bowl along.”
Gower understands the enormity of the task he has set the filly but is confident, from a good draw, she will give a bold sight.
“It’s a huge ask, but it will give us a good guide to her ability,” Gower said. “She won’t disgrace herself. She’ll be a better filly next time in, though, because she’s been a bit immature but it’s all good experience.”
After Saturday, Sunday Shoes may back up at the same track next week over 1100m, but is more likely to run up the straight over 1000m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
“She has too much speed to run 1200, so about 1000 to 1100m is best,” Gower said. “Ideally I’d like to keep her fresh and run her at Flemington, but we’ll see how she goes this weekend.”
Among the opposition on Saturday is top-line sprinter North Boy, who hasn’t raced since winning the Group 3 Krisflyer Sprint in Singapore in May.
The gelding, prepared by Tony McEvoy at Lindsay Park, was to have run first-up in the Manikato but had a set-back.
“He had a hoof abscess and took a long time to get over it,” McEvoy said. “He’s fine now, though. I’m confident he’ll run well but, after having so long off, he will certainly be improved by the run.”
North Boy ran in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas on this day last year and, having failed to finish the race off behind Lonhro, has been set for sprints since.
McEvoy’s other feature-race runner for the day, Elegant Fashion, is also returning from a set-back. She is in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap.
“She ran below par in the Craiglee Stakes and we couldn’t work out why,” McEvoy said. “But about 12 hours after the race she broke out with a rash of boils. It really knocked her about and it took its toll on her. We had to back right off then build her up again but she’s going along well now. It’s a tough race to return in but I have a lot of faith in her and I’m just hoping she runs well.”
Elegant Fashion will miss the Group 1 Caulfield Cup next weekend, and will instead either run in the Group 1 MacKinnon Stakes at Flemington on November 2 or be freshened for the Group 1 Emirates Stakes over a mile at the same track on November 7. She may then even continue on to Hong Kong in December.
“Hong Kong is a possibility,” McEvoy said. “She could either run there in the Hong Kong Mile or the Hong Kong Cup. I wouldn’t send her to (Lindsay Park principal) David Hayes, though. I’d never get her back!”