Lindsay Park has decided to keep talented mare Fuhryk to sprinting after her two failures over further than 1200 metres.
After she flopped over 1400m at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week, the stable sent the mare to Perth in search of a Group One win in Saturday’s Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.
Fuhryk had an interrupted spring campaign but was successful over 1100m at Caulfield before her failure in the Group Three HKJC Stakes,
Co-trainer Tom Dabernig said the stable has had horses perform well in the Winterbottom previously after racing during the spring in Melbourne.
“Before she won at Caulfield she had a disappointing run where she burned her bumpers,” Dabernig said.
“We got that right and she came out and won and we then thought we’d try her at 1400 (metres), but her (longest) winning distance had only been 1200 previously.
“We had also tried her at a mile and she was disappointing then, so now she’s just a sprinter.
“We have in the past had our horses run well in the Winterbottom off the spring and we just thought she’d had a relatively light spring.
“She didn’t quite get to where we wanted her to, not through her lack of ability, but things didn’t fall into place.”
Her stablemate Sheidel ran second to Takedown in the Winterbottom a year ago.
Dabernig said Sheidel was a little more advanced than Fuhryk was at the same stage, but added Fuhryk was fit and well and deserved her chance.
“We were going to turn her out after Flemington,” Dabernig said.
“But she had done that well and she seemed bright we thought being a Group One we’d send her over and then aim her at the Adelaide carnival next year.”
State Solicitor is the $3.20 Winterbottom favourite ahead of the barrier draw with Adelaide mare Viddora at $4. Fuhryk is a $10 chance.
