Talented filly Everage is on track to make her long-awaited return to racing in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 22 after impressing in a barrier trial this morning.
Everage performed well in a barrier trial over 844 metres at Randwick this morning. Photo by: Steve Hart
Everage contested the second trial of the day over 844 metres this morning and worked home strongly to finish third behind the Gai Waterhouse-trained duo of Rain Drum and Sweet Idea, in a performance that impressed trainer Craig Carmody and jockey Nathan Berry.
The daughter of Zizou has not been seen at the races since she concluded her lengthy two-year-old campaign with a fourth place finish behind Northern Glory in the Become An ATC Sponsor Plate (1200m) at Royal Randwick on June 22 and according to Carmody has matured into a stronger horse after a healthy period in the spelling paddock.
“She has definitely grown a little bit and filled out behind the shoulders and neck,” Carmody told Sky Racing HQ this morning.
“She is a nice filly.
“She had a long two-year-old campaign and she did particularly well for us through that.
“We were particularly mindful of that and wanted to give her a good break and she has furnished out well.”
Everage is set to contest the Light Fingers Stakes in just over three weeks’ time, but Carmody is yet to decide on what will be the major 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival goal for the three-year-old.
Carmody is expecting Everage to perform well in whatever races she is set for during her preparation and believes that the filly may be able to step-up to 1400 metres, despite doing the majority of her juvenile racing over 1200 metres.
“Since she has come back she has shown me that she has lost nothing and improved a bit, so I am optimistic that she will have a good campaign,” Carmody said.
“Naturally she is a sprinting type filly, but given 1400 in the right set of circumstances I think that she would be soft enough to run that out.
“Time will tell.”
Everage performed well against a number of talented horses as a two-year-old, finishing second behind Overreach in the Listed Widden Stakes (1100m) and was runner-up to Safeguard in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m), but will be chasing her first win at Group level in the Light Fingers Stakes.
The Light Fingers Stakes has been won by a number of talented fillies in the past decade; with Gold Edition (2007), Forensics (2008), More Joyous (2010) and Sea Siren (2012) all recording wins in the Group 2 event.
