When Godolphin bypassed a Golden Slipper start with Arcaded, it was in the hope that a patient approach would be rewarded in the filly’s three-year-old season.
On Saturday at Randwick, the daughter of Street Boss will get the chance to prove they pulled the right rein when she lines up against a cracking field in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m).
A smart juvenile, Arcaded won three of her first four starts, including the fillies’ division of the 2020 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield and the Magic Night Stakes in Sydney.
But with strong depth in Godolphin’s two-year-old ranks, trainer James Cummings opted not to press on to the Golden Slipper.
That restraint didn’t bear fruit in the spring when Arcaded was sent back to the paddock after one run, a midfield effort in the Quezette Stakes, but Cummings is much happier with her constitution this time around.
He is hoping to see a much more competitive return on Saturday in a race Godolphin has won twice in the past four years with Flit (2020) and Alizee (2018).
“We didn’t accept in the Golden Slipper with this filly after she won the Magic Night, hoping to look after her for later, and unless she is winning a good race like this to potentially put better races on the radar for her, that would be a little bit of a waste,” Cummings said.
“She has more condition on her first-up this preparation than she did last prep and that’s probably the reason why her preparation really fell apart as a spring three-year-old filly.”
Both Arcaded and Heresy were also paid up for the Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday, but Cummings confirmed both fillies would resume in the Light Fingers Stakes.
Arcaded drew barrier 15 in Melbourne and four in Sydney, while Heresy drew low in both races, but in the end Cummings said the conditions of the Randwick feature were more favourable.
“Both fillies would have been penalised under set weights and penalties in Melbourne and Arcaded drew very, very wide at Caulfield and looks to get a beautiful run in the Light Fingers,” he said.
Arcaded and Heresy both have good fresh records but with unbeaten filly Espiona an unflinching $1.50 favourite, the Godolphin pair are rated at $51 and $81 respectively.
Heresy has received some specking after getting to $101, while Jameae has also firmed from $13 into $8.50.