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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Paul Facoory hopes his decision to take the easier path with debutante Magic Speed pays dividends with a home track win at Queanbeyan on Sunday.

The two-year-old was nominated for last Wednesday’s Warwick Farm two-year-old fillies race and after looking at the entries Facoory felt his filly might struggle to beat the Tulloch Lodge rep Agarwood.

His judgment proved spot on as Agarwood romped in and Magic Speed will be given her chance to do the same in the Peter & Audrey Sharp Memorial (900m).

Magic Speed, $2 with TAB on Saturday, signalled her promise as she sat off proven country sprinter King Gutho and put him away to win a barrier trial on April 22.

“We wanted to give her a bit of a hitout because she was going to Sydney last Wednesday,’’ Facoory said.

“We put a nomination in there and I had a look at the form and I thought Gai’s horse (Agarwood) might be a bit tough to be having her first start against.

“We’re keeping her here because it’ll be less taxing then making a trip up to Sydney and you’re up against some stiff competition there.

“We might be able to get an extra start out of her by doing it this way.”

Facoory said he has a lot of time for the Bon Hoffa filly and there is a bit of expectation around her debut.

“She can gallop there’s no doubt about that,’’ he said.

Magic Speed wins a trial at Queanbeyan on April 22

“I think there was a little improvement there after the trial because she pulled up a bit big after it.

“I don’t want to get too carried away but I think she should be winning.”

Stablemate Anthracia will be chasing a Queanbeyan hat-trick in the Queanbeyan RSL Coral Sea Cup (1000m) and Facoory is anticipating a competitive performance again though is wary of a rival.

The four-year-old has come from off the speed to post narrow wins at her past two starts but it’s not likely she’ll be so conservative this time around.

“I don’t really want to give Nick Olive’s horse (All Astern) too much of a start, I think it will be leading,’’ he said.

“She’ll probably be sitting behind the leaders three wide I’d say. She puts her head out and ears back and gives it her best.”

Damon Budler has ridden Anthracia in her two wins but Facoory has elected to make use of Olivia Dalton’s 2kg claim on a mare that has continued to improve winning three of her five starts in her second preparation.

“She just crept up in the weights and I just like to keep her down around the 56kg,’’ he said.

“It took her a long time to get her confidence, the first prep she had was basically just learning. After she came back and started her next prep it was all systems go.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday’s Queanbeyan meeting