Gerald Ryan is not hellbent on a Golden Slipper berth for talented filly Facile, but if she can get there of her own accord he won’t be holding her back.
A daughter of Ryan’s former top sprinter Trapeze Artist, Facile will resume in Saturday’s $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick after making a strong impression at her only appearance when runner-up to Saltaire in the Inglis Nursery (1000m).
The filly led on debut and was collared late but not wanting to pigeon-hole her as a frontrunner, Ryan deliberately had her ridden more quietly in a recent trial.
“We rode her behind so she wasn’t being stereotyped into leading all the time and she was strong to the line and strong through the line,” Ryan said.
“She has come back terrific.
“When she ran second at her first start, her sectionals were really good. She was on the speed doing all the work.”
Facile has drawn the rails on Saturday and Ryan is looking for a bold return.
He believes the youngster has the natural talent to earn her way into the Golden Slipper, although he feels she will be better again at three.
“She is probably a filly that is still a preparation away, so she won’t be overtaxed,” Ryan said.
“She will have one more run after this and if it got her into the Slipper she’d go into the Slipper, or you can keep her back and go towards the Percy Sykes.
“Come the spring, she will be a really nice filly for that fillies’ (Princess) series.”
Ryan and training partner Sterling Alexiou will also have the emerging A Little Bit Of Love chasing more black-type in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m).
Raced by Bert Vieira, who enjoyed great success with Ryan through the feats of Trapeze Artist, A Little Bit Of Love had a breakout spring collecting the Listed Reginald Allen Stakes (1400m) and finishing third behind Golden Mile and Communist in the Callander-Presnall (1600m).
“She ran in that basically as an afterthought, it was on a back-up and she ran really well,” Ryan said.
“I think she will run a race (on Saturday). She has improved, and she will need to have improved for where she is going.”
A Little Bit Of Love will follow a traditional three-year-old fillies’ path towards the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) provided she is competitive at Randwick.
