Rails Run: Chat faces task to topple Fasika in Missile Stakes

Chat is coming off a career-best win in the July Sprint but trainer John Thompson is wondering how Fasika can be beaten in the Missile Stakes.

Chat won the July Sprint last start. Picture: Getty Images

John Thompson, trainer of Chat, is fearful favourite Fasika might lead and dominate the Group 2 $200,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Chat produced a career-best effort for a first-up win in the July Sprint and Thompson is going “super” but he is concerned whether the Missile Stakes will be run to suit his sprinter.

“I think it will depend on the favourite,’’ Thompson said of rival Fasika.

“She has barrier one and it doesn’t look like anything else will take her on in the lead.

“It seems she will get her own way in front so it will be a matter of how that plays out and if the swoopers can get home over the top late.

“Chat has barrier four so I don’t think he will be too far away from the lead in the run.’’

Fasika is a firm $2.50 favourite with TAB fixed odds for the Missile Stakes while Chat is rated a $9.50 chance.

But Thompson said Chat has done everything right since unleashing a powerful surge to run down All Time Legend at Rosehill two weeks ago.

“He bounced through his Rosehill win really well, the horse is going super,’’ Thompson said.

“We have kept him nice and fresh for this race, I’m very happy with him.’’

Thompson is also upbeat about the changes of talented mare More Prophets making a winning return to racing in the Ray Selkrig Handicap (1200m).

More Prophets has a good first-up record and after finishing fourth in a recent Randwick trial Thompson took the advice of champion jockey Hugh Bowman and sent the mare back to the race.

“Hughie came back in after the trial and asked what I was going to do with her,’’ Thompson said.

“I said the plan was to trial her again and Hughie said no, she is ready to win now, just go straight to the races.

“It’s a shame Hughie couldn’t ride More Prophets as he was already booked on Chris Waller’s mare (Starla) who he won on last start but we are lucky to pick up Kerrin (McEvoy) to ride her.’’

Dreamforce will resume in the Winx Stakes. Picture: Getty Images

Thompson dismisses suggestions More Prophets didn’t come up last preparation even though the mare managed just a minor placing in three starts.

“When she ran third to Lost And Running, she went up the inside which was off on the day,’’ the trainer said.

“At Scone in the Dark Jewel (Classic, fifth) she had no luck and still ran well but then I made a mistake of running her again at Randwick when I probably should have spelled her.

“But she is come up really nicely this time in and is ready to go for Saturday.’’

Thompson spoke to The Daily Telegraph soon after an important barrier trials session at Royal Randwick on Friday where the trainer was buoyed by the trial efforts of stable stalwart Dreamforce, Fituese, Mamaragan and Xtremetime.

Dreamforce, the tough nine-year-old gelding who has won over $2.5m prizemoney, is showing Thompson he retains his zest for racing and finished a close fifth in his 1000m heat behind Embracer.

“I was happy with Dreamforce, he went well and is on track for the Winx Stakes in two weeks,’’ Thompson said.

“Fituese won her trial nicely and she goes to the Toy Show Quality, a nice 1100m mares race to kick her off.

“Mamaragan went great to win his trial. He could possibly run next Saturday in a benchmark 88 but if I feel he needs more time to get over that trial, we could wait a week for the Show County.’’

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The Randwick trials session on Friday was loaded with potential spring carnival contenders including the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Converge, who cruised home in sixth position in Fituese’s barrier trial.

Converge, winner of the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes earlier this year, is likely to have another trial before resuming in the Run To The Rose prior to the Golden Rose.

Tiger Of Malay, trained by Richard and Michael Freedman, finished just ahead of Converge in the same heat and will also be aimed at the major three-year-old races this coming spring carnival.

John Sargent’s talented filly Four Moves Ahead caught the eye rushing home for fourth in the Embracer trial while the unbeaten Ron Quinton-trained De An Andretti winning her heat well.

The John O’Shea-trained Lion’s Roar, winner of the Group 1 Randwick Guineas last autumn, looks in very good order finishing a close sixth in the Mamaragan trial, just behind the Freedman brothers’ Group 1 Surround Stakes winner Forbidden Love.

Converge will have another trial before he begins his spring campaign. Picture: Trackside Photography,

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Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller is relying on proven big-race performer Kolding to try and win his first Missile Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Kolding, winner of the Golden Eagle and a three-time Group 1 winner, has earned more than $6.3m prizemoney to be ranked 20th in the all-time list of Australian racing’s greatest prizemoney winners.

Waller might be chasing his first Missile Stakes but Joe Pride can equal the race training record if favourite Fasika can win the feature sprint.

Pride already has three wins in the big race with Eduardo (2020) and Rain Affair (2011, 2013).

John Hawkes has the training record with four Missile Stakes from Love Conquers All (2010), Lonhro (2002), Commands (1999) and Guineas (1997).

5 YEARS AGO

Classy mare Tycoon Tara, trained by Team Snowden, led throughout and held off Rebel Dane to win the Missile Stakes at Rosehill. Tycoon Tara was in career-best form that season, going onto win the Golden Pendant that spring the following year she claimed her Group 1 in the Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm.

10 YEARS AGO

Rain Affair, a brilliant wet-tracker, scored his sixth successive win when he held off Winter King to win the Missile Stakes at Randwick. The Joe Pride-trained Rain Affair returned two years later to win the race again, becoming the only sprinter this century to win multiple Missile Stakes.

20 YEARS AGO

Sportsbrat was ridden by a youthful Hugh Bowman when an upset winner in the Missile Stakes which was run in late July that year. Emerging champion Lonhro was still a two-year-old and was extremely unlucky finishing a close third. Lonhro won the Missile Stakes 12 months later during a celebrated career where he won 26 of his 35 starts, 11 at Group 1 level and earned Horse of the Year status.

Originally published as Rails Run: Chat faces task to topple Fasika in Missile Stakes