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By Ray Hickson

Trainer John Thompson has been sweating on getting a favour from the barrier Gods for his talented filly Screen Icon and now he has his wish he expects her to show her true potential at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer John Thompson (Pic: Bradley Photos).

In her three starts to date she’s come up with nine of 11, 15 of 16 and eight of eight so barrier one in the Group 1 $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) is like a minor win.

“Every start she’s had a wide draw and had to have a tough run,’’ Thompson said.

“It’ll be nice to be able to be in the first three and have a lot less to do.”

Screen Icon was runner-up on debut in the Gimcrack Stakes, she was only beaten 2-1/2 lengths in the Inglis Millennium and hasn’t raced since a narrow second in the Sweet Embrace Stakes at the end of February.

In the Sweet Embrace, she clocked the fastest last 600m of the race in 34.49 (Punter's Intelligence) as she just failed to reel in Spicy Miss.

Thompson elected to accept in the Golden Slipper and see if she could squeeze into the field, she was ultimately the fourth emergency and was home in her box when the two-year-old classic was run and won last month.

She’s been back to the trials and Thompson sees no reason why Screen Icon, $8 with TAB on Tuesday, won’t run up to his expectations.

“The trial the other day was just to keep her fitness up and I’m very happy,’’ he said.

“I took the punt of not running her again and seeing if we got the run (in the Slipper).

“I think three out of the last four years we probably get a run but with it being so open and having three late entries just cruelled us.

“Hopefully it’s a blessing and has her right for this race.

“She’s a nice filly, a progressive filly and being a Nicconi you’d think she’s only going to get better as she gets older. She’s run second in two Group races so she’s going all right.”

La Morra is set to back up in the Group 1 $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m) after pleasing the trainer with her fourth in last weekend’s Adrian Knox Stakes.

While she was a $201 chance in that race he was rapt with her performance given she had to concede a start from a wide alley and with a much kinder draw would expect her to hold a more forward position.

“She ran well the other day, she was back too far there. She’ll run the distance out and a lot of them won’t,’’ he said.

“She pulled up really well, I think she will back up. She’s a good doing filly and I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”

The Randwick trainer will be represented by Flying Embers in the $1 million Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) and warns she shouldn’t be underestimated.

The five-year-old qualified by running second behind Il Passero in the Wyong heat on March 28 and he says she’s ready to peak third-up.

“She missed the kick, was going to be on pace, and got back a bit further than ideal and struggled on the Wyong bend,’’ he said.

Screen Icon runs second in the Sweet Embrace

“She’ll be happy getting back to Randwick and third-up from a spell she’s coming right being a big mare.

“I still think it’s an open race. Myself and the winner out of our race the other day have been overlooked a little bit.”

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