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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Mark Newnham says he’ll study the make up of Saturday’s Sky Racing Active Handicap (1300m) at Randwick before committing to starting promising filly Arousal from the outside alley.

Trainer Mark Newnham (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The plan was for the Snitzel filly to race this weekend, hopefully win, then be put away for stakes races in the autumn like the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) on Day 1 of The Championships and Group 3 James Carr Stakes (1400m) two weeks later.

Those races are still in Newnham’s mind but he said she won’t race on Saturday, where she opened $4.60 second favourite, for the sake of it.

Arousal, a $1.1m purchase, was a dominant winner at her second start at Canterbury last month and Newnham’s plans speak to what he thinks of her future.

“She did enough at Canterbury to suggest she is going to end up a stakes filly and she’s shown me that in work,’’ he said.

“I wanted to progress to Saturday grade to get a bit more prizemoney so when we come back for those races at the end of the carnival we’d get a run.

“When you draw wide in the big races you have to run in those, you don’t have to run in these races. If it is a case of racing just for the sake of racing I’d probably choose not to.’’

So if Newnham does allow Arousal to take her place it’s a fair sign he thinks the filly and jockey Robbie Dolan can overcome some adversity.

The way he sees it, Arousal might have to be negatively ridden given the presence of a couple of noted speedsters drawn inside.

“Where she’s going to be placed in the run from the outside gate, she’s nearly forced to go back because it looks to be a race with plenty of speed,’’ he said.

“So she would be at best three wide no cover if she went forward, which is not the place for her. She’d have to be able to run on and be a winning chance if I was to run her.

“She’s a good filly who has taken a bit of time and she will only improve as she goes on.’’

Newnham’s Spring Champion Stakes winner Shadow Hero is gearing up for a return in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) next month on his way to the Australian Derby.

But talented filly Celestial Falls won’t contest the Australian Oaks with Newnham revealing a paddock accident while spelling has forced an extended break.

Arousal wins at Canterbury on December 13

“Shadow Hero has filled out a bit more, he was always a tall horse and he looks really good,’’ Newnham said.

“He’s going three quarter pace at the moment, he’ll trial on January 28 then have another trial before the Hobartville.

“Celestial Falls has had an unfortunate few months, the virus kept her out of the (Victorian) Oaks and now this paddock accident, so she’ll be more likely to head to the Brisbane winter.’’

Meanwhile, Villiers Stakes winner Quackerjack will return to Newnham’s stable next week to begin his build up to the Group 1 Doncaster Mile.

“It’s surprising, he has really tough runs yet pulls up fantastic out of it. He’s a unique anumal, he seems to enjoy a tough contest,’’ Newnham said.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Kensington meeting at Randwick