Gerald Ryan wants to see a bold showing from Arctic Glamour in the Kembla Grange Classic if the filly is to press on to bigger targets this autumn.
A Listed winner in the spring, the three-year-old has finished out of the placings in both the Light Fingers (1200m) and Surround Stakes (1400m) and while Ryan and training partner Sterling Alexiou have been satisfied with her efforts, they want a better result.
“We can’t fault her. She has run really good sectionals late at her last two starts but it doesn’t look it on paper,” Ryan said.
“She hasn’t had things to suit and she has also had soft ground under her.
“But in saying that, she has to show something tomorrow or we pull up stumps, give her a good break and start again.”
Slow starts haven’t been helping Arctic Glamour and with the step up to a mile in Friday’s Kembla Grange Classic, Ryan is hoping jockey Kerrin Mcevoy can coax her into a more forward position and put her within striking distance of the leaders.
While there is a question mark over her best distance, her closing fifth in the Thousand Guineas has convinced Ryan the filly enjoys a mile, however her ultimate target is the 2000m of the Vinery Stud Stakes.
“She ran well in the Thousand Guineas after getting checked halfway through the race and I’ve always been confident she would run 2000 metres,” he said.
“The Vinery has been her main aim all the way along.”
While Ryan and Alexiou will rely on Arctic Glamour, John Sargent will launch a two-strong assault with Harlow Mist and Last Straw as he bids to win the Group 3 feature six years after first claiming it with Luvaluva.
While Last Straw needs rain-affected ground to produce her best, Sargent expects Wakeful Stakes placegetter Harlow Mist to give the race a shake, comparing the latter favourably to Luvaluva, who went on to win the 2018 Adrian Knox Stakes.
“She’s about half the size but she’s got similar ability,” Sargent said.
“She gets out to a suitable distance tomorrow and from a good draw, she should get a nice run behind the speed.
“Reece (Jones) has won a couple of races on her, he knows her. She’s right in it.”
Provided Harlow Mist performs to expectations, she will progress to either the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) two weeks from Saturday or the Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) a week later with a long-term view to the ATC Australian Oaks (2400m).
