Latest News

By Ray Hickson

A win at the top level has proven elusive for Arctic Glamour so far but jockey Tom Sherry is quietly confident that breakthrough isn’t beyond her at Randwick on Saturday.

Jockey Tom Sherry (Pic: Bradley Photos).

In six attempts at Group 1 level so far, the mare hasn’t gone as close as she did in the Coolmore Classic last month and her consistency this season tells Sherry she has her hoof on the till.

Sherry sent Arctic Glamour around in a trial last week aimed at bridging the gap between the Coolmore and the Group 1 $1 million Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) where she's drawn the middle of a 14 horse field.

“She felt great in her trial, she’s going to have to improve again to beat that field but she deserves her chance,’’ Sherry said.

“Her record probably suggests she does race better at Rosehill rather than Randwick but at the minute she’s looking for a strong run mile and she should get that.”

Wet tracks are kryptonite for the five-year-old, that’s why she was scratched from the Emancipation Stakes two weeks ago, but the forecast is pleasing for both Sherry and co-trainer Gerald Ryan.

Sherry said when he pulled Arctic Glamour around the heels of the leaders in the Coolmore he momentarily thought he had the Group 1 in the bag before he was soon challenged by Lazzura.

“Everything went really well in the run, she gave me the feeling like she was going to win the race,’’ he said.

“It’s always a worry when you look over and see the white reins of Waller’s.

“She’s a pleasure to ride, she tries really hard and it’d be good to win a big race on her.”

The Irish born hoop notched his first Group 1 late last season on Tashi in the Tattersall’s Tiara in Brisbane.

Ryan, who co-trains with Sterling Alexiou, said all season Arctic Glamour has been racing in top form when she’s struck the right conditions.

“Four out of her last five runs have been terrific,’’ he said.

“She’s bright and well and her trial the other day was as good as she’s trialled for some time. You’ve just got to have things fall into place for her.”

A thought to try talented colt Skyhook in blinkers has been shelved based on how he’s been reacting to them leading into the Group 2 $1 million Arrowfield Sprint (1200m).

The three-year-old has been wearing winkers in his races including his first-up fourth in the Darby Munro on Golden Slipper Day and they're coming off as well.

“He worked okay Monday morning, I wasn’t jumping over the moon about it but he did have blinkers on,’’ Ryan said.

“We’ve had blinkers on him three times since his first-up run and he doesn’t seem to appreciate them.”

Skyhook started favourite in that race first-up under 58.5kg and he was only beaten a length by outsider Beskar and Ryan is confident he can improve with the run under his belt.

Arctic Glamour runs second in the Coolmore Classic

“He loomed up, he might have just needed the run,’’ he said.

“There’s nothing like match practice and he meets them all on level weights whereas the other day he was giving them a couple of kilos.

“Getting back to 1200m around Randwick, he’s raced well his only start there, and ridden a bit quieter he might hit the line better.”

All the fields, form and replays for Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday