Perignon has drifted out to 2015 Flight Stakes odds of $16, but trainer Gerald Ryan is hopeful that a change of tactics will help the promising filly return to her best form in the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Perignon has the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2015 Flight Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Perignon started her 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a strong second behind Speak Fondly in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on September 5, but she was slightly disappointing when fifth behind Pearls in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 19.
Ryan believes that jockey Hugh Bowman may have ridden Perignon too aggressively in the early stages of the Tea Rose Stakes and he told Racing Ahead that he expects the leading hoop to settle the Snitzel filly closer to the tail of the field in the 2015 Flight Stakes.
“The other day she may have travelled a fraction keen, so I took the blinkers off her this week and I would like to see her settle a little bit back,” Ryan said.
“In her early runs in her early preparations she was sitting back and hitting the line.
“I have always believed that 1600 would be her go and if she doesn’t run it on Saturday she will never run it.”
Perignon pulled up with the thumps following the Tea Rose Stakes, but Ryan said that the three-year-old had quickly bounced back from the problem and he is confident that she will be at peak fitness when she runs in the Flight Stakes this weekend.
“I am very happy with her,” Ryan said.
“She was a little disappointing the other day, but she pulled up with excuses having had a few bumps.
“She came home and cleaned up her feed and she felt good and strong, so we decided to keep pushing on to see how we get on.
“It is a Group 1 and it is her main aim this time in, so you would like to think she will be in her best form.”
Ryan is chasing his first win in the Flight Stakes after previously missing the placings with Flying Snitzel (sixth behind Norzita in 2012), Melito (fourth behind More Joyous in 2009), Break Card (fourth behind More Joyous in 2009) and Intuit (seventh behind Samantha Miss in 2008).
Perignon has drifted from Flight Stakes odds of $11 out to $16 with Ladbrokes, while Speak Fondly remains a clear favourite at a quote of $2.60.
