Racing
Ferivia right for Thousand Guineas Prelude
A grazed fetlock kept Ferivia from contesting a recent race at Caulfield, but the filly is ready to step out at Sandown.
Sometimes minor incidents happen for a reason and trainer Phillip Stokes hopes it works in his favour with Ferivia.
The filly was down to run in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last Saturday but instead she will line up in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Sandown on Saturday.
Stokes explained Ferivia slipped and grazed a fetlock on the Thursday prior to last week's race, but after treatment is ready to run on Saturday.
He said Ferivia was still on track for a start in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 18, provided the filly performs well on Saturday.
"She slipped on the concrete and grazed her fetlock, and it was just enough for us to pull her out," Stokes said.
"It happened a couple of days before and there was a bit of swelling there, so we didn't want to risk her as we couldn't treat her, so we pulled her out and we're hoping it was the right thing to do.
"We think having only one more run and going to the Guineas would be better for her anyway.
"So, we think it's a blessing, not that you want those little things to happen, but if she had run last week, she would probably have had to go to the Edward Manifold (1600m, at Flemington on October 4) and then onto the Thousand Guineas."
Stokes said Ferivia was treated with anti-biotics and had not missed any work and was ready to run on Saturday with Lachlan Neindorf in the saddle.
He said the 1400m trip at Sandown was a little tougher than that at Caulfield and this would tell him whether Ferivia would be up to contesting the 1600m of the Thousand Guineas.
"She's got to show us that she's looking for a mile and the 1400 metres at Sandown is pretty tough, so that will tell us one way or another," Stokes said.
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