Luke Fernie is under no illusion of the challenge that confronts Laced Up Heels in Melbourne on Saturday, but hopes his faith in the three-year-old is not misguided.
Laced Up Heels has yet to land a blow in her two Melbourne starts and faces a daunting task at Group 1 level in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
Fernie isn’t underestimating the test Laced Up Heels will face, but is banking on her rediscovering the form and quality that she displayed in Perth last year.
A trip east beckoned after she brilliantly won the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot in November, claiming the big scalp of boom filly Amelia’s Jewel.
Rated a $41 chance in the Australian Guineas with TABtouch, Laced Up Heels races at Flemington for the first time this preparation after being unplaced in two attempts at Sandown.
Settling back in both races, the daughter of Toronado finished seventh in the Kevin Hayes Stakes (1100m) and fourth in last week’s Armanasco Stakes (1400m).
Fernie admits Laced Up Heels will need to improve against elite rivals in the Australian Guineas, but believes at her best she is capable of causing an upset.
“She definitely needs to improve,” Fernie said on Tabradio.
“I thought her first up run was really good but last start she wasn’t at her best.
“I think that first up run might have flattened her, she just levelled out.
“Hopefully I’ve put a bit of zest back in her legs this week.
“I’ve changed things up and worked a little bit different.
“Hopefully we see a better result.
“She has her work cut out, but she has a motor there and hopefully we find it tomorrow.”
Fernie can get a real bounce earlier in the day with exciting three-year-old Wild Belle and juvenile Shaddow Fear.
Wild Belle steps out for her Melbourne debut after a sizzling four length win at Ascot in February.
The speedy Pride Of Dubai filly will tackle the VRC Life Member John Ford Sprint (1000m).
“Really happy with her,” Fernie said.
“I don’t know the form line and it’s hard to know what she is going up against, but off her work she’s been super and ticking all the right boxes.”
Fernie expects a turnaround from Shaddow Fear who ran down the track at Sandown at her interstate debut.
Unbeaten from two starts in Perth, the two-year-old can bounce back in the Furphy Trophy (1000m).
“She was very uncharacteristic and kicked out in the gates when she went to Melbourne for her first start,” Fernie said.
“Everyone knows it wasn’t like how she was going in Perth.
“She’s been working with Wild Belle and for a two-year-old to work with a three-year-old, shows me she is in a good head space.”
Perth jockey Chris Parnham will ride Laced Up Heels, Wild Belle and Shaddow Fear.
At home at Ascot, Fernie says Here’s Dreaming is his best winning chance in the Westspeed Platinum Autumn Final (1400m).
