Agarwood’s week on the training track will determine whether she takes her place in this Saturday’s $300,000 Furious Stakes at Randwick.
The daughter of Wootton Bassett was among 20 entries for the 1200-metre Group 2, but trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are open to lowering their sights with the filly who finished sixth, beaten six lengths, on a Heavy 10 track in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m). Bott remains convinced Agarwood has the ability to compete at Group 2 level but is keen to see her next trip to the races produced a more pleasant experience. “She may also be nominated for a midweek race to get a bit of confidence back off the back of that,” Bott said.
“The track was the big factor as to why she struggled the other day, but we would have liked a better platform stepping into that Group 2.
“She seems great and she has worked up nicely.”
Agarwood has not been entered for any other races this week, but next Wednesday at Canterbury there is a 1250m fillies and mares benchmark 72 that she is eligible for.
The Silver Shadow Stakes was Agarwood’s first defeat with her only two earlier starts resulting in easy wins at Warwick Farm and Randwick during May.
“It was difficult, she was beaten pretty quickly and convincingly the other day but she didn’t handle the track. It was very heavy, so you need to be forgiving of that,” Bott said.
“She seems well and if she has a positive week we’ve got some good options.”
Agarwood was one of two Furious Stakes nominations for Tulloch Lodge, which also has Listed Woodlands Stakes winner Stardom set to resume.
That daughter of Zoustar rounded out her preparations for a return to the track with an all-the-way 1000m trial win at Hawkesbury on August 25.
Tulloch Lodge’s two leading Melbourne Cup fancies, Vauban and Sir Delius, are also set to launch their spring campaigns with both in line to start in the $300,000 Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).
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