The fact Arabian Gold almost matched it with Guelph last year could be irrelevant in assessing her chances in the Light Fingers Stakes.
That’s because trainer David Vandyke has reservations about his filly’s sharpness going into the Group Two race at Randwick on Saturday.
Arabian Gold, Peter Robl - Photo by Sharon Chapman
“She came through her trial well but she’s lost a bit of the zip she showed in her preparations last year,” Vandyke said.
“From her wide draw she will just go back and she will be peeling out wide and you’ll see her getting home late.”
So meteoric was Arabian Gold’s rise during the middle of 2013, she started favourite to beat Guelph in the Tea Rose Stakes in September.
But it was the Darley filly who turned out to be the superior racehorse, beating Arabian Gold in the 1400m event on her way to Group One Flight Stakes and Thousand Guineas victories.
Light Fingers betting suggests Guelph will continue her run with bookmakers going up odds-on about her chances of making a winning return.
And just as Vandyke is doubting Arabian Gold’s first-up sprinting credentials, the Warwick Farm trainer has already ruled out testing her stamina for the second time in an 11-start career that has netted five wins.
Her autumn campaign will be centred on mile racing with a possible middle-distance finale.
“We are not going to send her out to a staying trip again,” Vandyke said.
“I think possibly up to a mile and maybe 2000 metres when she’s rock-hard fit will be best for her.”
Arabian Gold hasn’t raced since her sixth placing in the VRC Oaks when it was noticeable she peaked on her run 200m from the finish.
