Furnaces has been one of the best-backed runners in 2015 Golden Slipper betting markets, but trainer John O’Shea is concerned that the talented colt will be vulnerable when he returns to racing in the Listed Lonhro Plate (1100m) at Royal Randwick on February 14.
Furnaces will start his 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign in the Lonhro Plate. Photo by: Steve Hart
Furnaces was well-backed ahead of his racing debut in the Primo Moraitis Plate (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on October 25 last year and he justified the support of punters when he led from start to finish to record a dominant six and a half lengths victory.
The Exceed And Excel colt was immediately sent to the spelling paddock following his debut win and set for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m), but he on track return to racing next weekend after he recorded a comfortable victory in a barrier trial over 903 metres at Rosehill Gardens on February 3.
While Furnaces impressed onlookers with his professional effort in the barrier trial, O’Shea said that he wished the two-year-old had been given a tougher assignment and he told Sky Racing HQ that he is worried about the fitness levels of the juvenile heading into the Lonhro Plate.
“I just would have preferred him to have a day out that he would have derived a bit more benefit from,” O’Shea said.
“I thought that he did it a bit too easy, he didn’t learn anything and he is going to front up in a race there in ten days’ time where there will be horses that have had a bit of racing and will probably be a lot fitter than him.
“I would have loved him to have a similar trial to say Mogador, who got to follow something and pop out through a gap.
“I just thought that it could leave him a little venerable first-up.”
Godolphin are set to be well represented in the Lonhro Plate and Furnaces will be joined in the race by stablemates Haptic, Calaverite and Igraine.
If Furnaces lives up to expectations he will likely be pressed on to the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on March 7 before he takes on the best two-year-olds in the country in the Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
Furnaces is currently available at 2015 Golden Slipper odds of $10 with Ladbrokes Australia, while Canonbury Stakes winner Vancouver ($7) is a narrow favourite from Godolphin colt Ottoman ($8).
