News

Struggling filly not ready for fame just yet

6th Jun 2010

Sydney Morning Herald - Chris Roots - Sunday, 6 June 2010

PETER MOODY was left nonplussed by the win of quality filly Set For Fame in the group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm yesterday.

After enjoying the run of the race, Set For Fame sprinted clear at the 200-metre mark but the length margin to Acquired and Wealth Princess was what concerned Moody.

''She is not far behind [stable star] Typhoon Tracy, in my opinion,'' he said. ''I'm a bit disappointed with that because I think she should be winning a race like that a lot more easily.

''She is a group-1 filly and they were a bunch of group-3 mares there today and she struggled to beat them.''

Moody cast doubt on whether Set For Fame would continue to the group 1 Winter Stakes on June 26.

The daughter of Reset has been up for a long time, running second to Rock Classic in the Australian Guineas in March before she came down with a virus on the morning of the Coolmore Classic later that month, for which she was favourite, and had to be scratched.

''I still don't think she has really come back from that virus,'' Moody said. ''It really gutted her.

''She would really have to impress me in the next week to be running in the group 1 [Winter Stakes].''

Jerezana was well backed in the ring to start favourite but could only finish fourth after Kerrin McEvoy weaved a path in the straight.

Third placegetter Wealth Princess was vetted before the start because of a cut to her mouth and jockey Michael Walker thought the New Zealand mare's run was outstanding, with a view towards the Winter Stakes.

''It was a really good run under the big weight,'' Walker said.

''She has had that problem with her mouth and missed a bit of work, so I was very happy with that. She will be right come the Winter Stakes.''