A searching piece of trackwork has been the impetus behind the early-season return of Listed winner Arctic Glamour, who will be bidding to add to her black-type record in Sydney’s first Group race of the new term.
The four-year-old will take her place in the Missile Stakes (1200m) for which she is a $5.50 second pick behind resuming Hawkesbury Guineas winner Schwarz ($2.20 fav).
With Sydney’s mares ranks looking strong this season through the likes of Zougotcha, Tropical Squall, Stefi Magnetica and company, co-trainer Gerald Ryan feels Saturday’s Randwick sprint is a practical starting point.
“About three weeks ago, she worked really well here (at Rosehill) one morning on the course proper and that was when I started thinking about this race,” said Ryan, who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou.
“It just might be a nice race to kick her off in because I think a lot of the mares’ races are going to be very good races.
“She is bright and well and working well and she hasn’t missed a beat.”
Arctic Glamour defeated subsequent Group 1 winner Joliestar in the Reginald Allen Quality (1400m) last spring before mixing her form in five Sydney autumn carnival runs.
Ryan is adamant that wide gates and wet tracks hindered those results with her best effort a closing second to Olentia on firm ground in the Emancipation Stakes (1500m).
“She drew a lot of bad barriers and had to go back all the time and she was racing on wet tracks,” Ryan said.
“The first day she drew a barrier and got an even track underneath her feet she ran second in the Emancipation.
“She has had a nice spell and she has come back well. She has grown taller and lengthened a lot and she is a really nice mare now.”
The Missile Stakes has been a happy hunting ground for mares over the past decade with five of them successful, including I Am Me last year.
Arctic Glamour is one of three in Saturday’s renewal along with Steel City, who will have blinkers back on, and Shezanalister.
