News

Carlyon Stakes 2016: Life about to become difficult for Heatherly

21st Aug 2016

Herald Sun - Saturday, 20 August 2016

HEATHERLY is tipped to improve sharply on her classy but narrow first-up win at Moonee Valley on Saturday — and she’ll have to because life is about to become pretty tough.

The high-class mare started a short-priced favourite in the Carlyon Stakes — shorter than expected after the last minute scratching of rival Keen Array — and her supporters were never concerned despite the late charge of Adelaide visitor Viddora.

Heatherly will be aimed at the McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley in a fortnight followed by the Moir Stakes three weeks after that.

Waiting for her in the Moir will be world champion sprinter Chautauqua who will at least have a “bunny’’ to chase down in Heatherly.

Both jockey Damian Lane and co-trainer Mat Ellerton were adamant post-race that Heatherly would improve on Saturday’s winning run and they were equally adamant she will have to be competitive with Chautauqua.

“She’s a high-class filly and she’d trialled well leading in,’’ Lane said, adding he’d feared her lack of fitness and freshness would take a toll late in the race. That’s exactly how it panned out.

The late scratching by stewards of Keen Array, who suffered a colic attack, took some speed out of the race and Heatherly trotted up outside New Zealander Passing Shot shortly after the start.

Heatherly ($2,90 fav) found a length turning for home and held off the luckless Viddora ($5.50), who had raced wide, by a half length. Second favourite Shiraz ($5) found some traffic and ran seventh.

“She’s all class and I think, in starts to come, with a bit of freshness out of her if something wanted to go quick I can sit at its girth,’’ Lane said.

“It’s good to get the win on the board and I think there are better things in store.’’

Ellerton said: “She was good enough to get away with it and she was out on her feet late.’

“She’ll improve with racing, that’s for sure. She had a nice long spell from autumn to spring and she will be back in a fortnight, then fingers crossed three weeks later.”

Ellerton hinted the best way to ride Heatherly — and the best chance to get Chautauqua off the bit and chasing — would be to ride her for speed, rather than cuddle her early.