Trainer Gerald Ryan insists Arctic Glamour’s upset first-up success was no surprise to those close to the mare, even if a wide draw has complicated her bid to win again in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill.
Sent out at $41, Arctic Glamour produced a strong performance to land the Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) earlier this month, her first start since a pair of below-par Brisbane winter carnival runs.
Ryan believes those Queensland efforts skewed market expectations and says punters underestimated how unsuited she was by the Eagle Farm track.
“I told anyone who asked me she’d win. She was over the odds,” Ryan said.
“Her two runs in Queensland, she just would not stretch out at Eagle Farm, which a lot of horses don’t. Kerrin (McEvoy) came back in both times and said, ‘her run isn’t as bad as what it looks’.”
Arctic Glamour’s record already includes a victory over multiple Group 1 winner Joliestar as a three-year-old, Group 2 placings behind Olentia and Schwarz, and a creditable fifth behind Ceolwulf in last year’s Epsom Handicap (1600m).
The Hot Danish Stakes win was her first in two seasons, with a combination of wet tracks she doesn’t appreciate and a share of bad luck limiting her strike rate despite banking upwards of $730,000 from 21 outings.
“She’s had a lot of genuine excuses,” Ryan said.
“But she worked really well on the Tuesday morning before she won, and I did the same work with her this Tuesday, and she worked equally as well.”
Ryan is yet to lock in a race plan from the outside barrier, mindful that Arctic Glamour settled handy first-up but may need a different approach on Saturday.
Regardless of the gate, he says she needs the run to keep to the program aimed at The Ingham (1600m) next month at Randwick.
Stablemate Brosnan will also be in action, contesting the Vale John Jeffs Handicap (1800m) where he meets last-start winner Luskaire three kilos better for a half-length defeat over the same course and distance.
“He’s consistent and honest and he meets the horse who beat him last start three kilos better on Saturday,” Ryan said.
“He won’t be far away.”
If you’re punting on the Festival Stakes, check odds and offers from the top Australian betting sites before you bet.
