Trainer Paul Messara hopes to get an early indication of promising filly Double Ranga’s spring hopes when the youngster makes her comeback at Eagle Farm.
Double Ranga returns from a four-month break in Wednesday’s Sky Racing Handicap (1000m) and will be ridden by in-form jockey Damian Browne.
The Sydney filly made her debut with a solid fourth at Canterbury on February 23 before Messara tipped her out for a spell following her narrow maiden win over 1200 metres at Canterbury on March 9.
Messara, who has a satellite stable at Caloundra, believes the daughter of Exceed And Excel has a bright future and hopes she’ll progress further during the spring carnival in Sydney.
“She’s a nice filly and I’m getting her ready for the early spring races in Sydney,” Messara said.
“She’ll have a couple of Brisbane runs before she goes back home where she’ll be aimed for The Rosebud and some of the early three-year-old races.
“I like her. The day she won at Canterbury she beat a smart field and came off a bad alley.”
Double Ranga hasn’t trialled ahead of her comeback but Messara is confident of a forward showing.
“She had a jumpout and went fine even thought she didn’t win,” he said.
“This looks a nice race and she should be hard to beat.”
Messara opened his Caloundra stable last spring and regularly has up to 12 horses in work under the supervision of Eden Petrie.
“It’s been a good exercise and the stable up there is going well,” he said.
Messara didn’t win any of the winter majors in Brisbane but did unveil two horses, Mahisara and Chateau Fort, who look to have promising futures.
Mahisara’s brilliant win in the Listed Centenary Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday has earned the colt a shot at the Group One Caulfield Guineas in Melbourne during the spring while Chateau Fort has emerged as another spring hopeful.
Mahisara was also runner-up to Absalon in the Listed Dalrello Stakes at Doomben after finishing third to Hot Snitzel in the Group Two Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm earlier this month.
Chateau Fort failed to make it to the Group One Queensland Derby but showed he was a worthy middle distance performer with his victory in the Group Three Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm and placing in the Group Three Rough Habit Plate (2020m) at Doomben in May.
Messara abandoned Derby plans with Chateau Fort following the colt’s 10th to Turnitup in the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Doomben last start.
AAP TURF
