Ghisoni Scratched From Light Fingers Stakes

Undefeated filly Ghisoni has been scratched from the 2016 Light Fingers Stakes that will be held at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Ghisoni is set to make her next appearance at the races in the 2016 Surround Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Ghisoni is set to make her next appearance at the races in the 2016 Surround Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Ghisoni was one of several fillies that have received betting support in the lead-up to the Light Fingers Stakes and she was set to start the race as favourite, but trainer John O’Shea elected to scratch Lonhro filly after she failed to clear out her feed bin overnight.

“She left a little bit of feed last night and she was salivating in her mouth,” O’Shea said.

“She might have a little tooth or something there that is aggravating her, but the fact that she left feed was enough for us to pull her out.

“Her temperature is normal and she is bright enough and she is fine enough in that department, but we have decided to be cautious with her at this early stage.”

Ghisoni made her racing debut with a very comfortable victory in the TAB Rewards Maiden Plate (1200m) at Warwick Farm on November 11 and she was far too good for her rivals in the Watagan Grange Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 28.

She showed that she was ready for her return to racing with an outstanding barrier trial performance at Royal Randwick on January 29 and O’Shea was very bullish about her chances ahead of the Light Fingers Stakes.

O’Shea is hopeful that Ghisoni will take no long-term harm from what he hopes is just a minor problem with a tooth and he said that the three-year-old in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 27.

“The disappointing thing about today is that she had an impeccable preparation until right up to 24 hours before the race, so it is very frustrating for the team,” O’Shea said.

“She has made tremendous physical improvement even from December to now and we are really, really happy with her.

“She will continue to improve as she gets older and we are pretty adamant that she has a nice race in her.

“We will probably just wait for the Furious in a fortnight.”

Stay With Me is currently available at 2016 Light Fingers odds of $2.70 with Ladbrokes and she is a narrow favourite from Team Snowden-trained Kangarilla Joy ($3.20), Tea Rose Stakes winner Pearls ($5), Gai Waterhouse-trained Harlem River ($8) and Flight Stakes placegetter Perignon ($8.50).

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.