Trainer Anthony Cummings has confirmed that Fontelina will make his long-awaited return to racing in the 2015 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Fontelina will start his autumn campaign in the 2015 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Fontelina finished a close second behind Spirit Of Boom in the William Reid Stakes last year and he was set to contest the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m), but he twisted his ankle in the lead-up and was sent to the paddock prematurely.
The injury forced Fontelina to miss the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and he was set to make his return to racing in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on March 7, but he was scratched from the race after he was kicked by another horse the day before the race.
Cummings told Sky Racing that Fontelina had quickly recovered from the small cut that he suffered during the incident and he said that he was more than happy with the son of Testa Rossa heading into the 2015 William Reid Stakes this weekend.
“He will go to Friday night at the Valley,” Cummings said.
“I have been pleased with his last couple pieces of work.
“It was unfortunate that he didn’t get to run in the Canterbury, but he has gotten over the issue had that day and he goes there a very good chance.
“He missed the spring, but he is back now and I am pleased to see him back the track.”
Fontelina is yet to record a win at the highest level of racing, but he has been one of the most consistent sprinters in Australia over the past two years and is unlucky not to have a Group 1 victory on his racing resume.
The six-year-old was narrowly pipped by Rebel Dane in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1200m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival and Cummings believes that the talented gelding should arguably be defending his title in the William Reid Stakes after he was blocked for a run at a key time in the race last year.
“He was unlucky not to have won this race last year and in his next start he came to Sydney and went wrong,” Cummings said.
“He just got held up at the wrong time and he got nosed out.
“I thought that he had won on the line, but it wasn’t to be.”
Fontelina is currently available at 2015 William Reid Stakes odds of $17 with Ladbrokes, while Angelic Light ($5) is a clear favourite from Rebel Dane ($6), Peron ($8), Vain Queen ($8), Earthquake ($9), Famous Seamus ($9), Trust In A Gust ($9) and Under The Louvre ($11).
