Trainer Matthew Smith is hoping for a weight for age break through for Fierce Impact when he tackles a high class field in the 2020 Group 1 $500,000 Neds C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Fierce Impact, above, is one of several Group 1 winners among the nominations for the 2020 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Fierce Impact is the winner of two Group 1s, both under handicap conditions, and Smith is hoping his stable star can deliver in weight for age company.
“A weight-for-age win at 1400 metres would be good for his future as a stallion and I think on his wins in Melbourne during the spring, he can run well, for sure,” Smith told AAP.
Fierce Impact was outstanding during the 2019 Melbourne Spring Carnival with wins in the Group 1 $500,000 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield and in the Group 1 $2m Kennedy Cantala (1600m) at Flemington.
Smith describes Fierce Impact as a lazy worker on the tracks but his confidence was boosted when the six year old stallion was more focused in a gallop in between races at Canterbury last Friday night for Nash Rawiller.
“He’s such a lazy worker,” Smith said.
“But his work at Canterbury last Friday night was as good as he does work and I think taking him to the races woke him.
“Nash (Rawiller) got off him and was very pleased with him, so that probably gives us a good indication that he’s come back in pretty good order.”
Craig Williams rode Fierce Impact in his back to back Group 1 wins during the Spring and will be back aboard in the C.F. Orr Stakes.
Fierce Impact is also nominated for the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 7 and the $5m The All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield on March 14.
Early betting at Ladbtokes.com.au for the C.F. Orr Stakes has Fierce Impact marked at $9 while Lindsey Smith’s Group 1 winning Scales Of Justice sits at the top of the market order at $3.60.
Scales Of Justice claimed his second Group 1 trophy with his victory in the $1m New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield during the 2019 Melbourne Spring Carnival and has kicked off his 2020 Autumn Carnival campaign with a win in the Group 2 $200,000 Mortimer Petroleum Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on January 24.
Early betting for the 2020 C.F. Orr Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.60 Scales Of Justice, $5 Hey Doc, $6 Begood Toya Mother, Alabama Express, $8 Microphone, $9 Fierce Impact, $11 Avilius, $14 Night’s Watch, $15 Ringerdingding, $19 Kings Will Dream, $26 Fifty Stars, So Si Bon, $34 Mirage Dancer, $51 Streets Of Avalon, $61 Vega Knight, $67 Levendi, $151 Sircconi.
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