Luke Fernie, trainer of impressive Perth Stakes winner (1100m) Ripcord, isn’t about to concede the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) to exciting filly, Live To Tell.
The Simon Miller-trained Live To Tell is a raging $1.80 Tabtouch Fixed Odds favourite after scoring a staggering Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) victory on Saturday.
Live To Tell looked an impossible winning chance when turning for home in last position, but launched a sizzling sprint to defeat Super Smink on the finishing post by a half-head.
The Gimcrack Stakes gave Live To Tell her second win from three starts and a feature double after taking out the Supremacy Stakes (1000m) two weeks prior.
Live To Tell was the entrée to a special day for Miller and jockey Pat Carbery after stable mate Amelia’s Jewel came out and won the Roma Cup (1100m) first up.
Live To Tell is out to follow in the footsteps of Amelia’s Jewel who won the Supremacy Stakes, Gimcrack Stakes and Karrakatta Plate last year.
Ripcord is currently rated a $10 chance for the Karrakatta Plate, pressing his claims after a promising victory on debut in the Perth Stakes.
Off one 400m trial, Ripcord raced wide early, but displays raw ability and let down strongly to defeat Alotofbanter and Snow Prince.
Luke Fernie doesn’t shy away that Live To Tell is the horse to beat in the Karrakatta Plate, but with Ripcord, he says there’s cause for optimism.
“I think she (Live To Tell) is a star, but I don’t know if there is a huge difference between them,” Fernie told Tabradio.
“You are only going to know on race days, but barriers are a big thing.
“If she (Live To Tell) draws wide I wouldn’t want to be giving him (Ripcord) too big a head start on Karrakatta Plate day.
“She’ll have to run down a smart one.
“By the same token if she draws a gate I don’t want to chase her down from too far off as well.”
Fernie scored his second consecutive Perth Stakes after Left The Building won last year.
He said Ripcord, a $40,000 weanling, had recovered better than expected after his first official race experience.
“Sitting three deep wasn’t ideal and it didn’t look a good experience at one point,” Fernie said.
“He let down like a horse that is going to improve a lot.
“He came through the run really good and surprised me somewhat.
“I thought there might have been a chance of him going shin sore.
“But he ate up everything, has cold legs, is walking well and I’m happy with him.”
Meanwhile Fernie said Shaddow Fear and Wild Belle are returning to Perth after Melbourne campaigns.
“Wild Belle pulled up lame after her last run and will have to come back and have surgery,” Fernie said.
“We’ll determine if we push on racing with her or she can go to the breeding farm.”
