By Ray Hickson
Trainer John Thompson has done his best to ensure consistent mare Flying Embers is sharp enough to be effective first-up at Warwick Farm on Wednesday as he looks to get her to black type races later this autumn.
It’s been nine months since the four-year-old last raced but she did have a spring preparation that was cut short by an untimely injury.
William Stanley rides Flying Embers to win at Royal Randwick Racecourse on May 24, 2025.Credit: Getty Images
A wet track for her season return in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1100m) is a bonus for Flying Embers with all four wins coming on soft and heavy ground.
“She was ready to go but she cut her leg and it had to get stitched up. It was in a bad spot and took a while to heal,” Thompson said.
“She’ll run well, we’ve kept her a bit sharp with the short trials.”
Flying Embers was a Midway winner in May before Thompson gave her a shot at a Group 3 in the Gunsynd Classic at the end of her three-year-old season.
He’d like to get her back to stakes company at some stage this preparation and with four wins from nine starts he also has the option of a Provincial-Midway Championships qualifier later in the month.
The mare did win first-up over 1100m at the start of her previous campaign, albeit in lesser grade.
“I think she will go through her grades and hopefully end up in a black type race at some stage,” Thompson said.
“She’s had a couple of nice trials without too much pressure and seems to be going well.
“She will improve with the run which is a normal routine for my horses anyway.”
Thompson said he’s not overly keen to kick off Open Secret’s preparation on a wet track though she did run fourth in the Silver Shadow on heavy ground in the spring.
She’s accepted in the Ranvet Handicap (1100m) but the trainer said he may look for other options.
Meanwhile, Thompson is hopeful talented youngster Screen Icon can sneak into the Golden Slipper field after electing not to run her in the Magic Night at Rosehill on Saturday.
Runner-up in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes to Spicy Miss at her second run for the autumn, the filly has $102,500 in eligible prizemoney and is in the low 20s in the order of entry.
If she doesn’t make the final 16 then the Group 2 $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) becomes Screen Icon’s target.
“If I run her again she wouldn’t go any good in the Slipper on a back-up, I’m just going to have to see if we get a run,” he said.
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