Leading Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan is looking for Pembrey to run right up to her explosive Silver Shadow Stakes display when she tackles the next leg of the four-race Princess Series at Randwick.
The three-year-old was dominant when leading throughout two weeks ago, but with the likes of $5.6 million buy Chayan and Rosebud winner Chilly Girl bringing fresh formlines to Saturday’s Furious Stakes (1200m), Gollan wants to see Pembrey back-up her Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) effort with an equally strong showing.
“She was dominant in that field,” Gollan said.
“Obviously it keeps getting tougher throughout the spring, so we want to turn up in the Furious in the same or better shape and hopefully she can do it again.
“She ‘ratings peaked’ her first run of her first ‘prep’, and it’s only her second racing prep.
“We’re obviously still learning with her, but she feels like there is room for improvement. She had more coverage on her this time for her first-up run and she has come through it well, so we’re hopeful for an as good, if not better, performance.”
Pembrey is a $2.20 favourite to make a clean sweep of the opening two races in the Princess Series and will have a new rider in that quest.
Tommy Berry takes over from James McDonald, who had a prior commitment to Chayan, and Gollan says the former has a good handle on his filly’s capabilities despite not having ridden her in a race.
“He has actually galloped her a couple of times down there already, Pembrey, so he’s done me a really good service and it’s good to have him on board,” Gollan said.
“She really enjoys Randwick. She has settled in beautifully. We got her down there quite early for that (first) race and she hasn’t missed a beat. She has come through it perfectly so far.”
Berry has an strong record of success in the Furious Stakes having won it three times aboard Libertini (2019), Dame Giselle (2020) and Apocalyptic last year.
