By Craig Kerry
Kelly Schweida was ready to test Sunrays in Sydney five months ago, before Michael Freedman-trained Apocalyptic proved her class with a Princess Series treble.
The Queensland trainer pulled the pin and sent her for a spell when a foot abscess derailed her spring campaign aimed at the Tea Rose and Flight Stakes, both won by Apocalyptic after her Furious Stakes victory.
Queensland filly Sunrays.Credit: Michael McInally/Racing Queensland.
With two listed wins on his Hellbent filly’s CV, Schweida said it was time to test her on the road and step up to group 2 level for the first time in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Randwick.
He just wishes Apocalyptic “would stay at home”.
Apocalyptic was a $1.60 TAB favourite to take out the Light Fingers first-up. Sunrays, a winner five times in eight starts, all in Queensland, was $16 after resuming with a sixth over 1000m at Eagle Farm on January 31.
Schweida had Sunrays also entered for an easier race at home on Saturday, but he believed she was a chance to get valuable black-type at Randwick.
“She was $50 or something [in early markets] and I think her form entitles her to be better than that,” Schweida said.
“There’s two or three in there that go good, and then I think it levels out.
“Last start she got too far back and they run home in 32.87, and she’s not capable of running quicker than that, so it was better than it looked.
“We’re just chasing a bit of black type, that’s all. Even to run a place is those sorts of races is gold for a mare.”
He said how Sunrays will handle the travel was a question mark, but he was keen to find out before committing to the group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) at the track in two weeks.
“I think it does them the world of good,” he said of the trip away.
“She’s not travelled much, but she’s a pretty relaxed sort, a big girl, so eating and all that won’t worry her.
“We’ll just come down and see how we go. She will tell us where she’s going. She’s nominated for that race in a fortnight, but obviously she’ll have to be super good, or we’ll get her ready for the carnival here.
“I think her last win was over 1500, and she’s only had the one run in and two runs in eight months, so she should keep improving.”
Freedman, meanwhile, was excited to get Apocalyptic back to the track.
“They are animals, so I never get too far ahead of myself and I certainly never get overly confident with any horse,” Freedman said.
“I’m happy with her, but you need the luck in running and all that.
“When you break your maiden in a group 2, then win a group 2 and group 1 at your next two, you don’t see it too often, so from a trainer’s point of view, when you get those sorts of horses around you, it’s exciting.”
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