Lady Be Great exceeded expectations on debut but the filly won’t be getting under the guard of punters again at Randwick on Saturday.
The Jason Coyle-trained two-year-old, who scored by 3-1/2 lengths on debut at a starting price of $20, has firmed from an opening quote of $9 to $4.80 for Saturday’s PKF Handicap (1200m) with TAB Sportsbet.
The filly is on trial for a Listed assignment in Queensland in two weeks and Coyle believes the daughter of Charge Forward has shown enough to indicate she is ready to handle her first Saturday test.
“We thought a top-five finish on debut at Warwick Farm would have been a nice place to start but she definitely exceeded our expectations,” Coyle said.
“Her work since has been very good and fitness-wise she should have improved plenty off the back of that first-up win.
“She looked soft under saddle looking at her in the yard on debut so naturally you would expect her to improve from that.”
Coyle has pinpointed the Listed Lancaster Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke Handicap day, June 11, for Lady Be Great’s first stakes test.
“Ever since she trialled well at Randwick (last month) that race was in the back of our minds, and even if she had run in the top five the other day we would have pressed on with those plans,” Coyle said.
“The fact she won it’s definitely on the cards, but she would have to perform well tomorrow and pull up well.”
Apprentice Adam Hyeronimus, who partnered Lady Be Great to her debut midweek win in the 1100m 2YO Maiden on May 4, has the ride again on Saturday.
Hyeronimus has lowered his minimum riding weight to 52kg so will be able to claim 2.5kg of his 3kg allowance on the filly.
“He’ll ride her at 52 kilos, she still gets in light,” Coyle said.
Hyeronimus brought up his first Saturday metropolitan winner at Rosehill last weekend when he steered Fibrillation to a last-stride win.
AAP TURF
