Luke Fernie confident Melbourne duo are back on track

Trainer Luke Fernie is happy to press on deeper into the Melbourne Spring Carnival with Wild Belle and Ripcord, despite disappointing at their most recent outings.

Ripcord finished at the tail of the field in Saturday’s Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, as did Wild Belle in the Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m) at the same track a week earlier.

Fernie said the pair had genuine excuses for the performances.

“They’ve both been crook,” Luke Fernie told Racing WA Thoroughbreds.

“They’ve both got a bacterial infection in their lungs, so that’ll explain their performances.

“It’s easy enough to fix up and things should be on track after today.

“Wild Belle’s bloods were off after her performance and Ripcord’s were fine before his run on Saturday.”

Fernie had hoped to take Ripcord to Sydney for next month’s $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill but has decided against the extra travel.

Ripcord is set to stay in Melbourne and line up in the $500,000 Damien Oliver (1400m) at Flemington on Derby Day, while Wild Belle will line up in the Furphy Sprint (1100m) on the same card.

Fernie said while he would’ve liked to have chased the riches of the Golden Eagle, staying in Melbourne was the sensible decision.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on him to travel again,” he said.

“He still has to come home and race in the feature races there.

“I couldn’t go to Sydney with confidence after Saturday.”

Fernie said he felt Wild Belle would also appreciate the chance to start down the Flemington straight again, having already had made two goes at it as a three-year-old in 2023.

Meanwhile, Fernie’s Listed Crawford Stakes (1000m) winner Bravo Centurion will progress to the Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m) at Ascot on Derby Day.

Fernie said he expected the four-year-old to take plenty of benefit from the impressive performance and indicated he hoped to get him to the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).

“He only had one gallop since his previous start before Saturday,” he said.

“It was more of a trial for him, and I was impressed with how he handled it.

“He’s had a few soundness issues along the way, so we are going to enjoy the ride while we can.

“I said to the owners ‘let’s have a crack at the Winterbottom while he’s sound.”

Another of Fernie’s stable stars Laced Up Heels will also start at Ascot on the same day in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m).