By Ray Hickson
The last time everything fell into place for lightly raced mare Fleeting Spirit it happened to be her last attempt on the Kensington track and co-trainer Sterling Alexiou hopes lightning can strike twice on Wednesday.
Trainer Sterling Alexiou (Pic: Bradley Photos).
The four-year-old showed she is on target to post a second career win with her eye-catching, and unlucky, fifth behind Jellicious at Warwick Farm two weeks ago.
That horse won’t be among her opposition in the TAB Handicap (1250m) which Alexiou said is a boost to her chances.
“She’s in good order and hopefully with a bit better luck a win’s not far away for her,’’ he said.
“I think she should have run a clear second the other day, she just got back into a very awkward spot and was dictated to by the winner.
“We were happy with how she was working heading into that race the other day. We bumped into a filly that looks like she’s going through the grades.
“She was still near last at the furlong and when she finally got a bit of clear air attacked the line really well.”
Fleeting Spirit, $4.80 with TAB on Tuesday, is a horse that Alexiou and co-trainer Gerald Ryan believe will work her way through the classes in her own right.
It’s not been the smoothest of preparations so far as she struck a heavy 10 in her first-up run off one barrier trial which meant the stable backed off to help her get over it.
“She shows at home that she’s genuine Saturday quality, she’s taken a while to put it together,’’ Alexiou said.
“She can still get a bit keen at times. Last preparation it took her a while to iron out a few things and when she did everything right on race day she put a race away.”
Alexiou is quietly confident High Blue Sea isn’t far off another win in the Ole Kirk @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1400m).
The six-year-old has been placed at his past two starts, at Doomben then under 63.5kg in The Panorama at Bathurst.
“He’s going as well as he’s ever gone,’’ he said.
“He’s racing consistently which is good for him, he can be a bit in and out of form. It looks a nice race for him, he’s well graded, a good draw, go forward jockey.
“I’d imagine he’ll settle in the first three or four and look the winner at some stage.”
It’s A Wonder will be out to make it three straight first-up wins in the Brave Smash Yearlings Handicap (1400m) though Alexiou is a little concerned the small field could play against her.
The mare hasn't raced since April and has trialled twice, the latest behind TAB Everest runner Jimmysstar.
Fleeting Spirit runs fifth at Warwick Farm on September 24
"She’s won her last two fresh runs so she can obviously produce first-up,'' he said.
"She can be a bit in and out, in a six horse field tempo might be against her. She seems to be going well and if she found her best in a race like this it would be well within her grasp."
All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Kensington meeting