A vastly improved Peggy Jean is ready to tackle boom Melbourne two year old Boomwaa in the $250,000 Inglis Classic (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Peggy Jean to take on Boomwaa in Inglis Classic at Randwick. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Even though trainer Gerald Ryan says that Peggy Jean has shown enormous improvement since her debut second to Nayeli over 1000m on the Kensington track on January 8, the Rosehill conditioner has a healthy respect for the Robbie Laing trained Boomwaa.
“You’d think Robbie Laing’s horse will be very hard to beat,” Ryan told Racing Network.
“His only run in Sydney was outstanding and he’s drawn a good gate and you would think he’ll be fitter too.”
Boomwaa created a huge impression in winning by three lengths in the Group 3 $150,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on November 9 before resuming for a second to the Gai Waterhouse trained Fighting Sun over 1110m at Rosehill on January 4.
Ryan has no doubt that Peggy Jean has gone ahead since her run on the Kensington track and is glad he gave her that run instead of a second barrier trial.
“I was either going to trial her again or run her and we decided to run her in that race, so it has really improved her a lot,” Ryan said.
Ryan hasn’t overtaxed the Myboycharlie filly on the training tracks this week and only sent her out at even time from the 800m on the inside grass at Rosehill on Tuesday morning before running home the last 400m in 25.01s.
Ryan will saddle up two runners in the Inglis Classic with Snitzel colt Smokin Snitzel facing the starter for the first time, but fancies that Peggy Jean is his better chance with the experience of that run under her belt.
“She’s the better of my two and she has really come on well since that debut,” Ryan said.
“The filly is a speed horse and she’ll go forward, whereas the other one won’t have the early speed and he’ll go back from that wide draw.”
Smokin Snitzel has trialled twice recently for a third and a second over 900m at Rosehill and both youngsters will carry the Triple Crown Syndications’ red colours.
Laing gave Boomwaa a solid hit out on Tuesday morning on the inside grass at Rosehill when he galloped with Fastcar over 600m in 36.04s, coming home the final 200m in 11.58s, before rounding off his Inglis Classic preparation working even time over 800m on Thursday morning.
Boomwaa heads the Inglis Classic market order at $2.30 in front of unbeaten New Zealand two year old Vinnie Eagle at $4 with Peggy Jean on the third line of betting at $7.50.
The Tony McEvoy trained first starter Affirmation is the only other runner under double figures at $8 while Smokin Snitzel shares the next line of betting with the Gosford filly Uratta Belle at $17.
