A future Classic campaign has already been tabled for promising filly So Fear who will close out her two-year-old preparation at Te Rapa.
The in-form youngster will be given a break following Saturday’s Listed Waikato Equine Centre Veterinary Stakes (1400m), with expectations high that she can sign off with another bold showing.
“We’ve always had this race in mind to get her up over a bit further, I don’t think the trip will be any trouble at all for her,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.
So Fear is also expected to prove equally effective over more ground next season with her demeanour instilling further confidence.
“She’s got a remarkable temperament, which is great, she just does everything so well and she’s always been laid back and comfortable in her work,” Marsh said.
“All going well, she’ll be on a 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) path in the spring when I’m sure she’ll run a mile without a worry.”
So Fear was unbeaten in her first two appearances at Wanganui and Pukekohe when racing on the speed before she came from last to place in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.
“She’s got a good record, three starts for two very good two wins and her third the other day was a great effort,” Marsh said.
“From a bad gate, she got well back and hit the line strongly and has gone ahead since.”
So Fear is a sister to Codigo, who Marsh prepared to win the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) and also trained their sire Ardrossan to claim top honours in the 2017 Waikato Equine Centre Veterinary Stakes.
Courtney Barnes will continue her association with So Fear on Saturday while Michael McNab will be aboard stablemate Bourbon Time, who has placed once from three appearances.
“She’s got plenty of ability but is still new and green and hence the reason the side winkers have gone on, but So Fear is very much on top,” Marsh said.
“Both fillies will go straight to the paddock after this for deserved spells.”
Marsh will have a big team engaged at Te Rapa and urged punters not to drop off Financier when he runs in the PGG Wrightson Grain Handicap Mile (1600m).
He has been close to the major players in his last two outings and the step up to 1600m will be ideal for the Tavistock six-year-old.
“He’s taken a little while to get back to where he needs to be and up to a mile with the blinkers on, I think he can really turn his form around,” Marsh said.
Of his runners at Pukekohe on Friday, he believed his best prospects will come early in the proceedings.
“I really like Sweet Disposition, he’s going great and both him and The Glamorous One are well-placed at a mile, and with McNab on both they will be good chances,” Marsh said.
Sweet Disposition (race three) and The Glamorous One (race two) will step out in divisions of the Show By Skycity 1600.