Trainer Jason Coyle will put his faith in a proven combination as Siren’s Fury looks to end an eight-month drought from the winner’s list in the Group Three Festival Stakes at Rosehill.
The last jockey to win aboard the backmarker, Tim Clark reunites with the mare on Saturday when she chases her first win since taking out the Group Three Star Kingdom Stakes in the autumn.
While Siren’s Fury’s racing pattern means she relies heavily on a combination of luck and a genuine tempo, Clark was buoyed by her closing first-up seventh to Savatiano in The Hunter when she was ridden by Glen Boss.
“I won on her last prep and she is always running on well,” Clark said.
“I reckon this sort of trip will really suit her, she just needs a bit of tempo.
“She ran really well in the Hunter and that’s a strong race. She is a knockout hope.”
Trainer Gary Portelli has decided to back up 2017 Festival Stakes winner Testashadow on Saturday after the horse did little more than stretch his legs when unplaced at Kembla Grange last weekend.
Portelli believes the eight-year-old did not enjoy the firm track and decided to look after himself.
“He came back and wouldn’t have blown a candle out last week,” Portelli said.
“He drops a lot in weight, he has pulled up very well and is fresh in himself so we decided to back up.
“He only got beaten three lengths last week with the big weight on his back and he just seems to go well for Deanne Panya too.”
Testashadow has to contend with a wide draw of barrier 12 of 14 and while the trainer expects him to go forward, Testashadow’s attitude in the early stages of the Kembla race has him second guessing.
“I saw us in the first three or four but he just showed no speed last week at Kembla Grange,” Portelli said.
“It was just a poor run and he didn’t stretch out early. I’d like to go forward but it will just depends how he jumps.”
Testashadow will be gunning to become the first dual winner of the Festival Stakes since This Manshood took out back-to-back editions in 2002-03.
Godolphin four-year-old Ranier is the early favourite after missing a start in last Saturday’s $1 million The Gong when he was made an emergency.
