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Sprightly step toward feature double

Oaks Ladies Day at Morphettville was big, but Goodwood Day could be something else for Jordan Frazer if Spright can complete SA’s feature-sprint double this weekend.

Spright powered past her rivals in the $600,000 TAB Classic (1200m) on May 4, and victory in Saturday’s $750,000 The Goodwood – over the same course – would see the NSW-trained mare become just the second horse since Black Caviar to claim both Group 1 races.

“Yep, it would be really special to pull off the double,” said Frazer, who has been entrusted with the five-year-old’s SA sojourn by his father – and Spright’s trainer – Garry.

“This is the feature race of the carnival and it’s another big-prizemoney race.

“With a bit of luck, it’ll be a good weekend.”

Ladies Day was Frazer’s first trip to the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival and he was suitably impressed.

“It was a really good day and I think it was a bit more of a relaxed vibe than it can be for the big days at Flemington or Randwick, for example,” he said.

“They say there’ll be even more people for Goodwood day, so that will add to the buzz.

“The great thing is the track has been playing perfectly, on Ladies Day and even last week on Derby Day. The winners have been coming from everywhere.”

Morphettville’s ultra-fair track is good news for star sprinter Spright, who typically sits off the pace and comes with a paralysing run – like her maiden Group 1 success in the TAB Classic.

After riding Spright in trackwork on Tuesday morning, Frazer said all signs – including the extreme outside barrier in The Goodwood field of 16 – point to more of the same this Saturday, with champion jockey Damien Oliver again on board.

“It was only maintenance work to keep her fitness up, but she worked really nicely and I’m pleased with her,” he said.

“As I said last time she’s better being out there rather than barrier four or five, where she’s a chance of being cluttered up, or on the fence and not seeing clear running.

“There actually seems to be a bit more pace in this Saturday’s field than there was in the Sangster (TAB Classic), so that should suit her more as well.

“When she gets clear running she’s got a very devastating turn of foot.”

Like last year’s Goodwood winner Santa Anna Lane, which has gone on to be acknowledged as Australia’s top sprinter, Spright could bounce from this weekend’s Adelaide race into other feature events.

“Win or lose she’ll head home after Saturday back to Hawkesbury, but whether we go to the Stradbroke or the Tatts Tiara (both in Queensland) that’s still a bit of a question mark,” he said.

“There’s also the race in October at Randwick (The Everest) and if she was lucky enough to get a spot there she’d race for another season.

“But whatever happens, she’ll be in the breeding barn by the next season.”

Spright’s TAB Classic win took her career earnings to $1.268 million, with six wins and nine placings from her 29 starts.

The Goodwood is race seven on the outstanding eight-race card, which features five Group 3 races, one Listed race and – of course – the Group 1 highlight.

Words by Paul Mitchell. 

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