Talented filly Earthquake recorded a narrow win over Cristalina Lago in a barrier trial at Cranbourne this morning.
Earthquake moved one step closer to a return to racing by winning a barrier trial at Cranbourne this morning. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Earthquake was included in the acceptances for the second barrier trial of the morning over 800 metres and she jumped well from the inside gate to take up the running in the early stages, but was quickly challenged by a number of rivals who were spread right across the track.
Cristalina Lago challenged Earthquake coming into the straight, but the Godolphin filly was able to fight back in the final stages to win the trial in a time of 45.82 seconds, despite being kept under a heavy hold throughout.
There was plenty expected of Earthquake when she started her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on September 6, but she didn’t handle the heavy track and finished third before plans to run in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) were cancelled when she was beaten by First Seal and Winx in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on September 20.
Earthquake returned to winning form when she carried the top weight of 59 kilograms in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 11 and she was not disgraced when she finished eighth when caught on the wrong side of the track in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
Trainer John O’Shea has not revealed what path that Earthquake will follow during the 2015 Autumn Racing Carnival, but she is expected to be kept to races 1200 metres and below.
Cristalina Lago has recorded just one race win since she made her racing debut at Cranboune in January last year, but her impressive barrier trial performances indicates that she could be in for a breakout campaign.
The Encosta De Lago filly started her spring preparation with a second place finish behind Zeletto at Sandown on September 3 and she finished a credible fifth behind Eloping in the Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 26 before she was outclassed behind Earthquake in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes.
John And Chris Ledger-trained Finda Fitter Filly worked home strongly in an eye-catching display and she could be one to watch as she makes her way through the grades during her autumn preparation.
