Weather to determine Moonee Valley clash for stablemates

The Anthony and Sam Freedman stable will consider scratching Argentia if the forecast rain hits The Valley.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting between 20-35mm of rain on Friday and a further 3-10mm on Saturday.

Argentia and stablemate Zouzarella are set to clash in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) on Saturday after both fillies posted wins at their only starts.

Sam Freedman said the stable would be keeping an eye on the weather.

“If it got into that really heavy range, we would likely save her for another day,” Freedman told RSN.

“She doesn’t need to have a complete gut-buster on a bottomless track first-up, so if that was the case, we would look at possibly running her at Sandown next Wednesday or down the straight at Flemington where she might meet Invincible Caviar again the following Saturday.”

Argentia scored on debut down the straight at Flemington over 1100m in June while Zouzarella was successful over Saturday’s course and distance on August 21.

Freedman said it was not ideal having the fillies meet but added Saturday’s race was the natural progression towards next month’s Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.

But Freedman said Argentia’s program will be decided after she runs over 1400m at her second run for the campaign.

“Everything in her pedigree says that a mile and beyond is going to be her go, but she does have a lot of speed,” Freedman said.

“She’s also won down the straight as well, so there is the potential a race like the (Group 1) Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) could be a race for her as well.

“At this stage we are leaning towards the Thousand Guineas unless something happens between now and then.”

Freedman said Zouzarella shapes as a 2021 Thousand Guineas filly and will have no trouble handling 1600m.

“Physically she’s a big rangy filly and will have no worries stretching out in distance,” Freedman said.

“That’s the query with her on Saturday, she might be looking for 1400 metres.

“If the ground was a Good 4 or a Slow 5, Argentia will be a bit sharper than her, but she’ll be finding the line strongly.”

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au

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