Trainer Chris Waller has revealed that Omei Sword will contest a barrier trial later this week, ahead of a 2017 Autumn Carnival campaign that is set to kick off in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in early February.
Omei Sword is set to resume in the Light Fingers Stakes on February 11th. Photo: Steve Hart
Omei Sword has only made a handful of appearances at the races since debuting in February last year, but has more than stamped herself as a filly to watch via and impressive record of two wins and two minors.
Last seen running second behind Astern in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) on September 10th, Waller told AAP that he has been pleased with the benefit taken by the High Chaparral filly in her time away from racing and underlined the 2017 Light Fingers Stakes as an ideal autumn launch pad, with a view towards contesting the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) third-up.
“She won’t run at Warwick Farm but will trial at the end of the week instead,” Waller said.
“We’ve still got a bit of time up our sleeve so she will go to Randwick.
“Her Group One target is the Coolmore Classic which she will go to third-up after the Light Fingers Stakes over 1200 metres and then the Surround over 1400.”
Trialling well in the lead-up to her debut, Omei Sword immediately franked her breeding with a strong first-up win in the Peter Svendsen Maiden (1100m) on February 24th.
Making a successful transition to black type company when second behind Calliope in the Group 2 Magic Night Stakes (1100m) on February 24th, Omei Sword was sent to the paddock after failing to fire and ninth in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on Day 1 of The Championships.
The filly out of Irish Lights was again prominent in Sydney trials leading into her Spring Carnival campaign and returned to competition for a maiden black type win in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m), in what was her only other career start prior to the Golden Rose.
A race like the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) during The Championships is likely to figure as a target for Omei Sword following the Coolmore Classic, and the filly is currently tied on the top line of betting for that race, at a $10 quote with Ladbrokes Australia.
