Not a Scintilla of doubt: Bridge confident rising filly destined for big things
By Ray Hickson
Trainer Les Bridge is happy to keep the steps on the small side – for now – with promising filly Scintilla as she chases a hat-trick at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Scintilla carries the same colours as some of Bridge’s outstanding mares like Hot Danish and Miss Zoe, and he said he can only hope she reaches similar heights.
Les BridgeCredit: Getty
Bridge threw in a nomination for the group 1 Surround Stakes with Scintilla, but that’s more a sign he thinks she will be stakes class in time and not an immediate target.
“I’m hoping she will be, she’s a lovely filly, and she hasn’t done anything wrong up to date,” Bridge said. “She’s a horse I like, and this race will tell the story. I’ve had a lot of good fillies, and she’s going the right way.”
The three-year-old lines up in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1400m) and has been impressive winning successive races over 1250m at Canterbury.
Braith Nock is unbeaten in two rides on Scintilla and with his claim she’ll carry 56kg, a rise of 3kg on her January 31 win, but Bridge is typically bullish about her chances.
“Up to date she’s going well, it’s 1400m on Wednesday and I think she’ll win,” he said. “With the allowance she comes in well so she should be hard to beat.
“She’s a big, rangy filly, and I think she will run a mile too. She hasn’t gone backwards, she looks good.”
Nock is also two from two on Smart Legend for Bridge and the five-year-old gelding stretches out in distance in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (2140m).
Smart Legend’s two recent wins have come over 1900m at Canterbury, split by second in a 1600m Midway at Randwick, and Bridge expects him to handle the distance test.
“He’s a good, honest, horse. He’s tough and rock-hard fit,” he said. “I don’t think the distance will worry him, and I’ve been wanting to get him out to that sort of distance.
“He’ll jump out and be in the first three all the way, he’ll hit the front in the straight somewhere and it’s just a matter of seeing it out.”
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
Waller eyes group 1 outing for Autumn Glow
Craig Kerry
Autumn Glow will trial on Monday at Randwick before a potential first-up run in the group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) five days later at the same track.
The unbeaten three-year-old filly was down to trial at Rosehill on Tuesday but was scratched, and trainer Chris Waller said she would instead have her second public hit-out of the campaign next Monday.
Coming back from a bone chip in her knee which ruled her out of the Flight Stakes in October, Autumn Glow returned with a quiet trial at Warwick Farm on February 11. She was a $6 second pick for the Surround with Sportsbet behind stablemate Lady Shenandoah ($1.80), which was an impressive winner of the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Randwick.
Private Harry set to reach for stars in Galaxy
Craig Kerry
Galaxy favourite Private Harry showed he was on track to fire first-up in the group 1 on March 22 with a front-running trial win at Rosehill on Tuesday.
The unbeaten colt, which dominated the Magic Millions Sunlight 3YO slot race last start on January 4, led from an outside gate and cruised to a one and a half-length victory over 1000m.
Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle said Private Harry would likely trial again at home on March 5, or the following day at Rosehill. “It was everything I wanted to see,” Doyle said.
Flight Stakes runner-up Harlem Queen also returned for Doyle on Tuesday and will trial again before resuming at 1200m or 1400m. Wooloowin, second in the same trial, is headed to the Provincial-Midway Championships and may also run in the Newcastle Stakes.