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Heinrich upbeat with Sweepstaking

Tuesday 9 February 2010
By Glenn Davis

Recent rain in Sydney hasn't detracted from trainer Gillian Heinrich's excitement with Sweepstaking who faces the biggest test of her career in the Group Two Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Sweepstaking was forced to do restricted work on a sodden Rosehill on Tuesday ahead of her assignment against Gai Waterhouse's star filly More Joyous and company in the 1200-metre three-year-old fillies' feature.

Sweepstaking and More Joyous have both won on slow tracks but Heinrich would prefer to see a fair contest on a firm surface.

"My filly has won on a slow track but I wouldn't like to see it get any worse and go to a heavy track if there's more rain," Heinrich said.

"I'd prefer to meet her (More Joyous) on a dry track, then both of them have the same chance."

The difference in wet track wins between the pair is stark with More Joyous' victory coming at her last appearance in the Group One Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in October while Sweepstaking's win was in a two-year-old maiden at her debut at Doomben a year ago.

"I'm excited and looking forward to this race," Heinrich said.

"Sweepstaking worked well this morning but the track was wet so she couldn't do too much.

"I know she can handle a slow track but I have no idea how she'll go if we get a heavy track."

Heinrich was not concerned with the restricted work from Sweepstaking who impressively won her past two starts at the Gold Coast and Eagle Farm last month.

"I'm not too worried about her work today as she won a barrier trial at Rosehill last week," she said.

"She's settled in really well in Sydney and it's obvious Gai's filly (More Joyous) is the one to beat.

"It's a good field even without More Joyous and it's what you expect in a Group Two race.

"This will tell us if my filly is a genuine black-typer."

Heinrich will be guided by Sweepstaking's performance in the Light Fingers before deciding how far the filly progresses during the autumn.

The Gold Coast trainer has pencilled in the Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 27 as the race which will determine if Sweepstaking tackles the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 13.

"Her next race should tell us if she wants to go a mile (1600m) and if she runs well she'll run in the Randwick Guineas," she said.

Sweepstaking will be ridden by Stathi Katsidis who is not overawed by her sharp step up in company.

"She's one of the better fillies I've ridden and she's got a great turn of foot," Katsidis said.

"I think she can measure up to the Sydney fillies."