Pasadena Girl Set For G1 Champagne Finish
- Thursday, 16 April 2015 07:35
An early education in Sydney has given Pasadena Girl the perfect foundation for a Group One bid in the final leg of the juvenile triple crown at Randwick.
The filly has been backed into $3 favouritism for the $400,000 Champagne Stakes on Saturday following an eye-catching Sydney debut when fourth in the Sires' Produce Stakes.
Her previous starts were in Melbourne where she strung together back-to-back wins.
While Victorian two-year-olds usually face some challenges trying to adapt to the reverse way of going in Sydney, Pasadena Girl has had no such issues.
Claire Cunningham manages Moody's Sydney team and she Randwick was Pasadena Girl's first home.
"We had her here for her early education as a young horse," Cunningham said.
"She had two (non-racing) preparations here last year as a baby so she is comfortable racing in this direction and at Randwick."
The familiarity of Sydney was countered last start when Pasadena Girl struck a rain-affected track for the first time.
Cunningham said the filly struggled to adjust to the new experience of soft ground during the first part of the Sires' Produce Stakes but finished strongly once she gained confidence in the conditions.
With Randwick again expected to be wet on Saturday, Cunningham has no doubt Pasadena Girl will be better equipped to cope.
Nor does she fear the rise to 1600m.
"She has always been running through the line so it should be OK," Cunningham said.
"She is a good galloper and she's very competitive which is her biggest asset."
Not much else about Pasadena Girl is big.
She will almost certainly be the smallest of the nine runners in the Champagne, although Cunningham prefers to describe the youngster as "petite".
And she says the filly's size is deceiving.
"She's got a big stride and she actually covers a lot of ground when she runs," Cunningham said.
"She feels bigger than she is when you ride her."
Moody will be represented in both Group One races on the final day of the Sydney autumn carnival with Dissident to line up in the All Aged Stakes provided the track isn't too wet.
