Perignon Bubbling Ahead Of Furious Return
- Thursday, 03 September 2015 07:19
Furious Stakes favourite Speak Fondly has already shown she has made the transition from juvenile racing to her three-year-old year with victory in the Silver Shadow Stakes at her first start of the new season.
Trainer Gerald Ryan is hoping Perignon can do the same when the pair meet in Saturday's Group Two Furious (1200m) at Randwick.
There was just a half head between the two when they met in the Magic Night Stakes in March with the winner Speak Fondly going on to run in the Golden Slipper and Perignon for a spell.
Instead of her usual fast gallop this week, Ryan gave Perignon a barrier trial to switch her racing brain back on in preparation for the Furious.
"Hugh Bowman has ridden her in both her trials and he is happy with her," Ryan said.
"She wasn't given a hard trial on Tuesday but I thought we would do that rather than just give her a gallop."
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Speak Fondly opened at $2 for the Furious with Perignon at $8.
Ryan's other runner, Widden Stakes winner Fireworks, is at $26 following her fifth in the Silver Shadow, 6-1/2 lengths from Speak Fondly.
"She was perhaps a little disappointing," Ryan said.
"I thought she would have settled a bit better and she is at the crossroads on Saturday regarding where we go with her."
Look To The Stars is also a $26 chance in the Furious despite her winter carnival credentials.
The Clarry Conners-trained filly won the Group Two BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1350m) and finished third in the Group One JJ Atkins won by Press Statement, one of the leading contenders for next week's $1 million Golden Rose.
She has performed well over shorter distances and boasts a win in a 1200m race at Warwick Farm in which San Domenico Stakes winner Japonisme was third.
