Trainer Gerald Ryan is confident that Peggy Jean will run well when she returns to racing in the 2014 Furious Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Peggy Jean took out the Sires Produce Stakes during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Steve Hart
Ryan revealed that he was worried about the progress of Peggy Jean when she first returned to begin preparations for her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign, but he told Racing Ahead that he has been happy with the way that the Myboycharlie filly has responded to a jump out and a barrier trial heading into the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) this weekend.
“She has come along really good,” Ryan said.
“I sort of had a few reservations a month ago, but then she had a jump out here on the course proper and she has jumped out of the ground after.
“She went to Kensington and trailed on the Saturday and she trialed a bit fresh and a bit well, but I thought her trial was solid and she ran good time without being asked.
“She improved off it, her work since has been good and she broke 12 running home this morning and she looked really good doing it.
“Whatever she does on Saturday you would say that she will improve off it, being first-up, but she is going into it very well and I expect her to run terrific.”
Peggy Jean won the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and she will face fellow juvenile Group 1 winner Earthquake in the Furious Stakes.
Ryan said that he will get a good idea about how well Peggy Jean has come back when she takes on Earthquake in the Group 2 event, but the veteran trainer revealed that the three-year-old has outworked Run To The Rose placegetter Ygritte in trackwork ahead of her return to racing.
“Earthquake is the measuring stick and from all reports she is going good,” Ryan said.
“You get an idea how they are coming up around the other two-year-olds.
“Ygritte was ok first-up and she went really good last week in The Run To The Rose.
“You would say that Peggy Jean has a little bit on Ygritte and it is really good to see where they are sitting and where they are measuring up. “
Peggy Jean has been included in the nominations for races like the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m), Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), but the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 4 is set to be her major spring target.
The talented filly is available at 2014 Furious Stakes odds of $4.80 to record a first-up win, while Earthquake remains an odds-on favourite at a quote of $1.80.
