Grahame Begg’s long-range plan to target Scone’s Inglis 3YO Guineas with Fedde hit a hurdle this week when the gelding drew the outside barrier.
Fedde has gate 16 of 16 in the rich $500,000 race and Begg concedes he will need good luck and a good tempo to overcome it.
“The worst part when you draw wide is that for the first 300 or 400 metres you’re going back while they’re all going forward,” Begg said.
“He will be very reliant on how fast they go.
“He will have to go back and be ridden for cover and hopefully he can finish off over the top of them.”
Fedde is raced in the same interests as recently retired Group One winner Ilovethiscity and has shown ability in his eight starts.
Last campaign he raced without luck on a couple of occasions, including when a closing sixth to Hendricus in a 1600m Inglis Bonus race at Warwick Farm.
He resumed with a strong third to Green Beret over 1250m at Canterbury earlier this month, a performance Begg was happy with considering the gelding’s lead up.
“He had a setback going into that race,” he said.
“It was a respiratory problem but it cleared up and we were able to get that run into him.”
While the step up to 1400m suits Fedde on Saturday, Begg is ruing the decision by officials to shorten the Guineas distance from 1600m.
The race, in it’s third year, was staged over 1600m for the previous two runnings when won by Star Of Octagonal (2010) and Sincero last year.
“I’ve had this race in mind for a while and they shortened it to 1400 metres back from 1600 metres which I’m not that happy about but that’s the deal,” Begg said.
Fedde was at $18 with TAB Sportsbet on Thursday with betting dominated by last start stakeswinners Pampelonne at $2.50 and Colorado Claire at $3.40.
While Fedde has yet to prove himself at that level, Begg said the three-year-old had his share of ability and was still relatively untapped.
“I think he’s a useful horse and we haven’t got to the bottom of him yet,” Begg said.
Begg will also start All Serene in the opening event over 1300m and he is looking for an improved showing from the three-year-old.
All Serene finished fourth to Strike The Stars in the Group Three Gloaming Stakes last spring but was beaten as favourite in a 1600m Gosford maiden last start.
“He was disappointing last start so I’ve freshened him up,” Begg said.
“He’s drawn well (two), I’ve dropped him in distance and put blinkers on so hopefully he will go well.”
