Trainer John O’Shea is expecting Pearls to take the next step when she lines up in the Group 3 $125,000 Forum Group Toy Show Quality (1300m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Pearls, above, is resuming in the Toy Show Quality at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
O’Shea admits that Pearls has failed to live up to stable expectations since winning the Group 2 $175,000 Coolmore Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick during the 2015 Spring Carnival but anticipates a return to form this Spring.
“This time last Spring she won a nice race and I’m fairly optimistic that she can find that level again,” O’Shea said.
“In the Autumn she didn’t quite find her form, but she looks a picture at the moment and she’s been working accordingly.”
From five runs during the Sydney Autumn Carnival, Pearls was only placed once when second to Tempt Me Not in the Group 3 $200,000 Dilmah Tea P J Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 2.
O’Shea then gave the Exceed And Excel filly one more run before a break but she was well beaten as favourite when seventh to Yattarna in the Group 3 $150,000 Kari J H B Carr Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 16.
Pearls has drawn nicely at barrier two in the ten horse field and Brenton Avdulla will be able to take up a comfortable position in the middle of the pack.
In early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Toy Show Quality, Pearls has come in for some solid support, firming in from $8 to be listed at $6 on Friday morning.
The Ron Quinton trained Dixie Blossoms heads the market order at $3.90 ahead of market mover Elle Lou, $5.50 into $4.20, and the Chris Waller trained stablemate Pioneering at $5.
Market order for Toy Show Quality at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.90 Dixie Blossoms, $4.20 Elle Lou, $5 Pioneering, $6 Pearls, $7 Heavens Above, $15 Knit ‘N’ Purl, Satya, $21 Slots, $26 Frill Seeking, $31 My Amazing Cool.
