Atmospherical has been included in the 2015 Rubiton Stakes field and trainer David Pfieffer is delighted with the condition of the talented filly ahead of the Group 2 event at Caulfield this weekend.
Atmospherical will face the toughest test of her racing career to date in the 2015 Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Atmospherical was sent to the spelling paddock after she recorded an impressive victory in the Listed Earl Grey Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Crown Oaks Day and she showed she had returned in good condition when she beat the likes of First Seal in a barrier trial over 838 metres at Royal Randwick on February 2.
Pfieffer told Racing Ahead that Atmospherical is in career best condition ahead of the start of her 2015 Melbourne Festival Of Racing campaign and he is looking forward to seeing the daughter of Northern Meteor in action in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m).
“She travelled down during the week and settled in very good at Flemington,” Pfieffer said.
“We are most definitely heading towards the Rubiton this weekend.
“He was pretty impressed with the way that she lengthened out in the straight, sometimes it is hard to get too excited with barrier trials, but regardless of that I am still happy with what she has done this preparation.
“She looks great in the coat and she will definitely be a standout in the yard.
“Her two trials have been very good and I am very happy with her work as we head into the Rubiton.”
Atmospherical has been included in the nominations for the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) that will be held at Flemington on March 14, but Pfieffer is planning on giving the four-year-old her maiden opportunity at the highest level of racing in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 28.
She remains a chance of pressing on to the Newmarket Handicap if she performs well in the Oakleigh Plate, while Pfieffer also has races like the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21 and the Group 3 McCarten Stakes (1100m) at the same venue a week earlier are also on the agenda for the mare.
“That is our two step-plan at this stage,” Pfieffer said.
“What happens after the Oakleigh Plate is a bit uncertain and it will depend on how she performs.
“If she goes really good we can look towards the Newmarket, but these sprint races are going to get stronger.
“We might even bring her back to Sydney and look at The Galaxy.
“She has always shown she has plenty of promise and she is a filly that is improving with age and improving with race experience.”
The 2015 Rubiton Stakes field is packed full of quality and Atmospherical is set to take on the likes of Darley Classic runner-up Chautauqua, speedy filly Eloping, the resuming Oakleigh Girl and talented mare Missy Longstocking.
