Speak Fondly has completed an ideal final tune-up for next weekend’s Golden Rose at Royal Randwick this afternoon; producing an impressive final straight sprint to take out the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m).
Speak Fondly kicked clear to win the Group 2 Furious Stakes at Randwick this afternoon. Photo: Steve Hart
Jumping from the gates well, jockey Kerrin McEvoy led Speak Fondly forward and settled the filly in prime position on the heels of early leaders Capricious Spirit and Serene Majesty, who flew the barriers and set a fair tempo towards the bend.
Receiving and ideal run in transit on the fence, McEvoy allowed the daughter of Northern Meteor to calmly spool-up before mounting a final assault over the last 400m; kicking clear to hit the line comfortably ahead of Perignon and Ottoman.
Gai Waterhouse was confident Speak Fondly would continue her winning form through the Furious Stakes and believes the filly will progress into a serious Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) contender this time.
“She’s too good,” Waterhouse said after the race.
“She’s absolutely outstanding, she’ll win the Flight Stakes and do the same thing in a couple of weeks – she’s really the real deal.
“She might win the Golden Rose, I’ll just have to speak to the owner.”
McEvoy delivered a typically polished performance aboard Speak Fondly for success in the 2015 Furious Stakes and is confident the filly will have no issue stepping up to 1400m for the Golden Rose next weekend.
“She’s come on again from her first-up run,” McEvoy said.
“She had to do it a little bit different today through the fence and bustled her way clear and she was dominant weight.
“Last time I won on her I thought she was only a sprinter but she relaxed nicely enough to say she might enjoy the 1400m.
“I’m sure Gai will have a lengthy discussion about it and see where we go next with her, but nice to get her back winning another good race.
“She was a nice winner there today.”
Speak Fondly has continued to firm in 2015 Golden Rose betting markets with Ladbrokes Australia and will likely consolidate her position on the third line following this afternoon’s success.
