Chris Waller looks to have a stranglehold on the Light Fingers Stakes with short-priced favourite Espiona and the talented Fangirl.
Unbeaten filly Espiona is a prohibitive odds-on favourite for the Light Fingers Stakes as she looks to cement her status as racing’s next big thing.
The three-year-old was at $1.55 with TAB fixed odds shortly after the final field and barrier draw were announced on Wednesday, despite coming up with an awkward gate in 12.
Her Chris Waller-trained stablemate Fangirl, who progressed from a Goulburn maiden victory in September to thump her rivals in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes during the spring, is the only other runner at single-figure odds as a $7 chance.
The pair are the new kids on the block when it comes to the three-year-old fillies and are anticipated to emerge as dominant forces, although Fangirl will improve as she is stepped up in distance.
Espiona is by Extreme Choice, the same sire as Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside and has won her only two starts by a combined total of almost 10 lengths.
She will take on a roster of established fillies led by Four Moves Ahead, who was the first of her gender home when fourth in last year’s Golden Slipper before tackling all four legs of the Princess Series in the spring, highlighted by her victory in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick.
Regular rider Nash Rawiller says Four Moves Ahead has returned in great order and she will have an important gear change in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m).
“A set of blinkers on, I think just gives us that little edge that will help her in a race that is a damn hard race,” Rawiller said on Sky Sports Radio.
“That just gives us, hopefully, a length that we may have lacked against some of these really good horses and a wet track brings us right into the race.
“Physically, she has definitely strengthened up. She’s not a big, strong mare but she’s an athlete
“She has really impressed me with what she has shown in her trials and I was able to ride her yesterday (Tuesday) morning at the track and she gave me a terrific feel.”
Four Moves Ahead has drawn barrier 14 and is an $18 chance in early markets.