By Ray Hickson
Champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy says it’s important exciting filly Miss Fabulass learns some race smarts if she’s to realise her potential this spring.
So her first-up assignment in the Tab.com.au (1100m) at Canterbury on Wednesday is an important part of that process.
Given the daughter of Frankel and Samantha Miss is quite high in the markets for some big spring Group 1s for a filly with just one start against her name there’s a bit of public expectation.
McEvoy said there’s no doubt Miss Fabulass has talent and believes she’ll be slick enough to shake off her maiden status over a trip likely to be short of her best.
“She’s going sharp enough to say the trip is no problem. I’d like to teach her a bit in her races rather than going out with all guns blazing,’’ McEvoy said.
“She’s still a tiny bit aggressive so it is important to do it in the right frame of mind.
“The other day in her trial I was impressed with the way she felt and looked and her mannerisms were really good as well.’’
Miss Fabulass is on the $26 line of betting with TAB for the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) and Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) in the spring.
Trainer Kris Lees isn’t taking Wednesday’s race for granted, particularly with Listed placed Ranier, who finished ahead of Sunlight at his only start, also engaged, but said he couldn’t be happier with the way Miss Fabulass has returned from a break.
He echoes McEvoy’s sentiments about the filly needing to do things right in these early races.
“She seems to have come back as good if not better than when she went out,’’ Lees said.
“She’s a touch highly strung but that will settle with a bit of racing. She wants to do things a bit quick at the moment so starting in a short race will be beneficial for her.
“It’s a pretty strong maiden, though, there’s no gimmes and she will acquit herself well.’’
McEvoy positioned Miss Fabulass just off the speed in her barrier trial at Gosford on August 6 and she attacked the line strongly under a hold to just fail.
On debut back in February, the filly settled near the tail before running a stunning 33.58 last 600m, 0.7 seconds faster than any other runner in the two-year-old event, (Punters Intel) and catching everyone’s eye in her fast closing second to Cristobal.
Re-live the impressive debut by Miss Fabulass at Rosehill back in February
“She was a bit raw at her first start and we drew the outside gate and elected to ride quiet,’’ McEvoy said.
“Things didn’t go to plan but we were still pretty dazzling running on from the back that day. I think the winner of that race is handy too.
“It remains to be seen what her best trip is because she’s quite sharp. She feels like a miler, whether she goes any further we’ll wait and see.’’
Meanwhile, Lees said it’s all systems go for Le Romain to resume in Saturday’s Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick.
He said stablemate Clearly Innocent has just come back to his stable after pre-training and may not race in Sydney this spring while another boom filly in Smart Melody is due to trial next Monday at Newcastle following a short break.
All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's meeting at Canterbury Park