The prominent Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan is anticipating Pembrey to deliver a performance mirroring her impressive run in the Silver Shadow Stakes as she prepares for the next event in the four-race Princess Series at Randwick.
The three-year-old filly was outstanding when leading throughout two weeks prior. However, with strong contenders like the $5.6 million acquisition Chayan and the Rosebud winner Chilly Girl entering Saturday’s Furious Stakes (1200m) with fresh credentials, Gollan is keen to see Pembrey follow up her Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) effort with a similarly powerful display.
“She was dominant in that field,” Gollan stated.
“Clearly, the competition intensifies throughout the spring, so our objective is to arrive at the Furious Stakes in comparable or superior condition, and we hope she can repeat her success. She reached her peak rating in her first start of her initial preparation, and this is only her second racing preparation.
“We are still discovering her capabilities, but she shows potential for further improvement. She benefited from more cover in her first-up run this time and has responded well, so we are optimistic about a performance that is as good as, if not better than, her last. She ‘ratings peaked’ her first run of her first ‘prep’, and it’s only her second racing prep. We’re obviously still learning with her, but she feels like there is room for improvement. She had more coverage on her this time for her first-up run and she has come through it well, so we’re hopeful for an as good, if not better, performance.”
Pembrey is currently the $2.20 favourite to achieve a clean sweep of the initial two races in the Princess Series and will be ridden by a new jockey in this pursuit.
Tommy Berry will take the reins from James McDonald, who had a prior engagement with Chayan. Gollan indicated that Berry possesses a solid understanding of his filly’s abilities, even without having partnered her in a race previously.
“He has actually galloped her a couple of times down there already, Pembrey, so he’s done me a really good service and it’s good to have him on board,” Gollan commented. “She really enjoys Randwick. She has settled in beautifully. We got her down there quite early for that (first) race and she hasn’t missed a beat. She has come through it perfectly so far.”
Berry boasts an impressive track record in the Furious Stakes, having secured victory three times previously with Libertini (2019), Dame Giselle (2020), and Apocalyptic last year.
Pembrey is expected to perform strongly in the Furious Stakes, with odds of $2.20 available at leading Australian betting sites.