Trainer Ciaron Maher has revealed that the 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is a possible first-up target for speedy filly Petits Filous.
Petits Filous started her racing career with four wins from as many race starts. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Petits Filous made her racing debut with a dominant six lengths victory in the Telstra Phonewords Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley on July 15 and she proved that win was no fluke with another impressive win in the United Refrigeration Handicap (1000m) at the same venue on August 1.
She made her black-type racing debut with a win in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 15 and she made it four on the trot in the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on September 12, but she was unable to replicate that sort of form in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on October 2.
Petits Filous was sent to the spelling paddock following her Moir Stakes flop and Maher told Racing Ahead that the Street Boss filly had taken plenty of benefit from her break, with the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 21 a possible target for the three-year-old.
“She is going along quite well,” Maher said.
“She is probably a bit more forward than Jameka at this stage, she obviously went out a little bit early in the spring.
“She has probably furnished a little.
“She may kick-off in the Caviar, she has a few options and we will just see how she comes up.
“She has certainly spelled very well, she has strengthened up and she looks great.”
While Petits Filous failed to perform at her best in the Moir Stakes, Maher remains confident that the filly is capable of winning at the highest level of racing and he believes that she is in for a big autumn campaign.
“That night at the Valley that track was rated a good two and she pulled up quiet jarry after that,” Maher said.
“She had quite a few runs in her first prep and I think that the combination of the two was the undoing of her.
“She is in that select few that can do it at both ends and I am quite excited to get her back in.”
Chautauqua is currently available at 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes odds of $3 and is a narrow favourite from Exosphere ($3.20), Terravista ($5), Delectation ($7), Srikandi ($8), Buffering ($12), Lumosty ($13) and Rebel Dane ($17).
