Talented mare Thump will return to the races in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday and trainer Kris Lees is confident that she is ready to fire first-up.
Thump could be set for the Golden Pendant during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
Thump started her 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign with a slightly disappointing seventh place finish in the Group 2 Light Finger Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 22, but Lees told Racing Ahead that the daughter of Red Ransom is in better condition heading into her first-up run this preparation.
“She had a good autumn for us,” Lees said.
“Her first-up run for me last preparation was a bit plain, but she appears to be going better this time around leading into her first-up run.
“She will be in stronger company, but she gives me every indication that she is in for a good preparation.
“She is a little keener in her work, I liked her trial and she has had a lot of nice gallops since.
“She appears to be going the right way.”
Thump has shown that she was one of the most competitive fillies of her generation, taking out the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m), Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m), but will be forced to take on tougher competition during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
Lees said that he will wait and see how Thump comes up before he decides on what races he will target with the four-year-old, but he revealed that the Group 3 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 27, a race he won last year with Sharnee Rose, looms as a nice race for the four-year-old.
“We will just see how she does aim up,” Lees said.
“Whether we can stretch her beyond 1400 I’m not sure, but she has been strong at 1400 a couple of times now in good quality races.
“Her next run, depending on how she goes Saturday, will either be the Toy Show or the Warwick Stakes.
“We will just take it a race at a time, but I think the Golden Pendant is a nice race for her.”
Thump has recorded three race wins from her 14 race starts to date and has accumulated over $400,000 in prizemoney for connections.
Lees is chasing his second win in the Missile Stakes after winning the 2008 edition of the race with Captain Bax.
