Feroce gearing up for Australian Guineas 2025 bid

Trainer Dominic Sutton faces a key decision regarding Feroce’s preparation ahead of the Australian Guineas at Flemington.

The Caulfield Guineas runner-up is set to have just one run before the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in March.

That first-up run will take place in either the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8 or the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington the following week.

“He’s performed better at Caulfield, but the Group 1 is at Flemington,” Sutton said.

“I think giving him more exposure at Flemington would be beneficial leading into a Group 1 race, but he’s definitely coming along well.”

Sutton gave Feroce his second trial in preparation for his return when the gelding chased home Sophia’s Magic in a 1200m heat at Geelong on Wednesday morning, with Billy Egan in the saddle.

“I opted to trial him over 1200 metres instead of 1000 metres because we’re aiming for a first-up run over 1400 metres, followed by the Australian Guineas,” Sutton explained.

“I wanted him to have a strong piece of work this morning, and he delivered. He was excellent.

“Billy mentioned after the trial that Feroce feels like he’s matured even more this preparation.

“He relaxed well, moved through his gears smoothly, and finished strongly.”

Sutton revealed that Feroce had only a brief break after his spring campaign, which concluded with a third-place finish in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 2.

“I wanted to give him enough time to be ready for the Guineas second-up,” Sutton said.

“We didn’t want to push him too hard. He’s had two solid trials now.

“Now, we’re just weighing up whether to run at Caulfield next week or wait for the C S Hayes the week after.”

Sutton recently moved into a new stable at Flemington, where he now has 18 boxes. After starting his campaign at Ballarat, Feroce relocated to Flemington following his jump-out at Werribee on January 17.

“He’s settled in very well at Flemington, and we’re hoping to get him onto the course proper for a gallop before the Guineas if we’re lucky,” Sutton added.

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