Queanbeyan trainer Paul Facoory is facing a welcome but tough decision this week, weighing up whether to run his promising mare Party It Down at her home track or take a shot at a TAB Highway race at Randwick.
The Highway or Home Track Dilemma
The four-year-old mare, who has shown clear ability at Highway level, holds a nomination for both the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1460m) at Queanbeyan on Thursday and a coveted spot in the weekend's TAB Highway at Royal Randwick, where she is the first emergency and likely to gain a start.
Party It Down has only one victory from seven career starts, but her recent form has convinced Facoory she is up to the competitive standard of Sydney's Highway series for country-trained horses.
"I think that was close to Highway form and with the right run in a Highway, I'm sure this mare will be very competitive whichever way she goes," Facoory stated.
Strong Form Lines Justify Confidence
The mare's case is built on two compelling performances. First-up this preparation, she was a desperately unlucky third behind Rubi Air in a race her trainer believes she should have won.
She then returned from a brief let-up to produce a powerful closing fifth behind Stormbringer in a Benchmark 60 at Canberra on November 23, despite drawing a poor barrier.
"If you look at her last run at Canberra over 1300 metres, she had a bad barrier and settled out the back but really closed off well in what was quite a strong race," Facoory explained.
Jockey Molly Bourke reported that with another 50 metres, Party It Down would have won. The form from that race has proven exceptionally strong, with the winner subsequently performing well in a Highway and both the third and fourth placegetters, Neeson and Breakaway Week, winning their next starts.
Facoory's Strong Queanbeyan Team
Even if Party It Down is saved for the Randwick adventure, Facoory will saddle a formidable team at his home track meeting.
He is particularly confident in Aquilino, who he believes is poised to break his maiden status in the 1460m Maiden Plate. The horse has placed in his last two runs, including a third to Tis No Man at Queanbeyan on November 11.
"He's not far away from a win. He's a very nice horse and is going to develop into a quality animal," Facoory said of Aquilino. "I think he has a bit more class over this distance... and is rock hard fit. I think he is going to be very hard to beat."
He will be joined in the same race by stablemate Delago Serg, who is first-up but has placed in five of his eight starts. Facoory expects him to be competitive, noting the gelding has matured significantly since his last preparation.
Another key runner is Anthracia in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m). Forgiven for a ninth placing last start after drawing poorly, she loves the Queanbeyan circuit and is expected to adopt forward tactics. "She is ready to go and will be very competitive," her trainer affirmed.
Davies Seeks Change of Fortune for Leantothemoon
In other news from the Queanbeyan meeting, local trainer Angela Davies is hoping the adage about bad luck coming in threes holds true for her mare Leantothemoon.
The mare has endured torrid luck in all three runs this preparation, including being caught wide and repeatedly held up for clear running. "She has had no luck at all this preparation and she definitely should have won last start," a frustrated Davies said.
Leantothemoon drops in class to a Midway Class 1 Handicap (1200m) and will be ridden by top jockey Tommy Berry for the first time, which Davies hopes will be the key to a deserved victory.
Davies will also start Vinniro in the same race, a recent stable addition who pleased with a fast-finishing first-up fifth. The trainer is focused on teaching the gelding to settle better in his races, believing he has the talent to win several.
