John Sargent has indicated it is all systems go for promising filly Elizabeel, who is set to resume in the Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick.
Elizabeel is among 17 entries for the $200,000 Group Two feature over 1200 metres on Saturday.
The Light Fingers is a traditional autumn springboard for the three-year-old fillies heading to the Surround Stakes and Coolmore Classic.
This year’s nominations include stakes winners Away Game, Hungry Heart, Thermosphere and Group One-winning New Zealand filly Kahma Lass.
Sargent said he was happy with the progress Elizabeel had made since the spring when her performances included a luckless third in the Reginald Allen Quality and a fourth in the $1 million Bondi Stakes in unsuitable conditions.
“It was too wet for her a couple of times in the spring but she did a good job and she’s fit and well and ready to go after a couple of solid trials,” Sargent said.
“She’s a different horse on top of the ground.”
Elizabeel finished fourth in a Randwick trial on January 7 then had a good blowout in winning a Gosford heat on January 19.
“She’s a nice filly and a lot stronger this time,” Sargent said.
“We gave her a good gallop and she finished off quickly over 800 metres on the Kensington track on Tuesday.
“She’ll go into the race nice and fresh and I expect her to run well.”
Elizabeel has been nominated for both the Surround Stakes and Coolmore Classic during the Sydney autumn.
Robbie Dolan, who has ridden the filly in seven of her eight starts, is booked for Saturday’s assignment.
Sargent will push on with two-year-old Readily Availabull, who was scratched on the morning of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a stone bruise before finishing sixth to Zethus in the Canonbury Stakes.
“He trials next week then we’ll aim at the Skyline Stakes at Randwick on February 27,” Sargent said.
Coolmore Classic-bound Emeralds will also trial next week before kicking off her autumn campaign in the Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) on the Skyline program
Four Moves Ahead, a two-year-old half-sister to Emeralds by Snitzel, impressed with her debut win last month and Sargent said she would trial again on Thursday then head to the Silver Slipper.
Stable star Brandenburg has been gelded and Sargent indicated the stakes-winning four-year-old would only have a few runs in the autumn as connections were keen to concentrate on the Melbourne spring carnival.
