After more than two years away from the winners circle, Furrion gets his winning chance again at Flemington.
Former Warrnambool Cup winner Furrion is enjoying life back in the beachside town.
Now his new trainer Lindsey Smith is hoping he can return to the winner’s list which may come in the ATA Celebrates Women Trainers Handicap (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Furrion will be lining up for his third run for Smith, having formerly been prepared by Darren Weir and Lindsay Park.
The English-bred galloper started his career with Weir in Warrnambool, winning six of his first seven starts, before a stint under David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig saw him win 2019 Warrnambool Cup.
A tendon injury sent Furrion to the sidelines for almost 18 months, and a five-run 2020 spring campaign failed to engineer a positive result for Dabernig and Ben Hayes.
With a change of scenery back to Warrnambool, Furrion pleased when a first-up sixth at Flemington on June 19 before running a close second to Mongolian Marshal in the VRC/CRV Winter Championship Final at Flemington on July 3.
Smith had the option of two races on Saturday, the other being the Sir Eugene Gorman Handicap (1600m), but felt the 2000m journey suited the gelding better.
“I don’t really know his best distance yet,” Smith said.
“He seems to me that the 2000 metres might be his distance and I was hoping it might be a bit weaker than the mile, which looks like it has turned out that way.
“My job is to just try and win a race with him again. He’s coming from a long way back, but he’s enjoying the beach lifestyle.
“It would be good to have a win for the owners and get him back winning again.
“We’ll see how he goes on Saturday, but there’s a race at The Valley over 2040 metres in two weeks that might suit him.”
