Spring plans for stakes winner Fituese will become clearer after the promising filly faces what is expected to be her final test for this season at Rosehill.
Fituese has won five of her seven starts including two from two this preparation.
A last-start 1-3/4-length winner of the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill, Fituese will be tried over 1200m for the second time on Saturday in a benchmark-88 handicap.
Despite the filly being beaten in her only previous attempt at 1200m in the Gosford Guineas at the end of her previous preparation, trainer John Thompson is convinced the distance is not an issue for her.
“We were thinking of taking her to Brisbane but just with the scenario at the moment we thought we’d just give her one more run here in Sydney, tick the 1200-metre box on Saturday and then give her a freshen up for the spring,” Thompson said.
“I’ve got no doubt whatsoever she will run the 1200 but that was just one run too many for that prep in the Gosford Guineas.
“She’s so relaxed so I think it’s not going to be a problem at all.
“If she doesn’t run it out like she has been over the shorter distances then we’ve got to plan for the short races in the spring. But if she runs out a strong 1200 and looks like she will maybe get further then it changes the prep in the spring.”
Thompson is impressed by the way Fituese is going through the grades and believes she is on target to run well again.
“Not only has she been winning impressively, she has been really good on the clock in both her runs this preparation,” he said.
“Every run she has she’s going over the line and pricking her ears and easing down. You would dare say she’s probably got more to give if she was challenged.”
Thompson has Primitivo nominated for Saturday’s Rosehill feature, the Listed Lord Mayors Cup (2000m), but weather and track conditions will have a bearing on whether he runs.
The trainer plans to have two runners in stakes races in Brisbane on Saturday, including three-year-old Grand Piano in the Group Three Fred Best Classic.
If Grand Piano wins he would likely back up a week later in the Stradbroke Handicap.
