Chasing The Sun

The Denman 3yo flashed home behind Spill the Beans in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas at her latest start to add another stakes placing to her impressive tally.

The $125,000 Fred Best offers the winner ballot exemption in Queensland’s time-honored Stradbroke Handicap and thus features key nominations from leading stables, including Waller’s Counterattack who bypassed the BTC Cup for this race; and the classy recent Adelaide winner Rageese, trained by Darren Weir.

Pfieffer is keen on his gutsy filly despite the strong competition, having been pleased with her demeanor over the past week which secured her place on the float heading north.

“She gave me every indication she was fit and well within herself following the (Hawkesbury) guineas” he said.

“I’m happy with the way she has been working and she keeps stepping up to the plate. This is a good race but I know she will be honest and with the right barrier she is sure to be competitive again”.

Pfieffer needed a pair of rollerblades early Monday morning, darting between trials at Warwick Farm, catching up on replays from the weekend’s successful Scone trip and planning his flights to Brisbane to oversee the final preparation of Denmagic on the road to Doomben.

Six horses trialled for Pfieffer and all impressed in their heats, showing the fitness of weeks of routines and enjoying a warm autumn morning workout on the track known as the ‘A Grass’.

Trialling particularly well was imposing gelding Almost Grand, a revelation of late for Bangaloe Stud that proves patience is the greatest tonic when racing thoroughbreds.

Setback by hoof problems and sent for a year off from the races, Almost Grand returned with a brilliant win at Kembla Grange before a hoof abscess gave Pfieffer another “hiccough” to work through.

Trialling under Travis Wolfgram, the handsome chestnut bounced well and box seated before working home strongly to grab third under his own steam.

Team Pfieffer was represented at the Scone two-day festival last weekend with both Dixie Chick and Cradle Me running game thirds in their races, the latter returning to her best form to stick on behind the powerful Clearly Innocent in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes.

Both mares have since recovered well from the runs and long trip and will be set for further racing, chasing long overdue stakes success.