Linda Meech rode two winners at Donald yesterday as she returned from injury PHOTO: racing.com
Three year old filly FIGHTING FAITH will need to overcome an awkward draw and a heavy track if she is to finally graduate out of maiden class at Wangaratta tomorrow.
FIGHTING FAITH was previously trained in Sydney by Bjorn Baker , but after injury put an end to her first campaign , the ownership group decided to transfer her to Victoria in search of additional prize money courtesy of the VOBIS incentive scheme .
The filly joined the all conquering Ciaran Maher & David Eustace stable at Caulfield before eventually finding her way to their Ballarat stable.
The filly has had three starts in Victoria , and despite starting a well backed favourite at each run , has been unable to tick off that all important maiden victory.
First up at Echuca over 1100m on 12 May , FIGHTING FAITH was trapped three wide without cover for the majority of the race , still looking the winner on straightening , however unable to run down the leader QUEENS AUTHORITY over the concluding stages .
Next start on the synthetic at Ballarat , she was again trapped a little wide in the run and seemed to hit a flat spot down the stretch , failing to run down the race leader and eventual winner CLEVER CHOICE .
Stepping up to the 1400m at Pakenham on June 11 again saw her a well backed favourite , but after having no luck in transit, seemingly struggled over the concluding stages to run third behind ROCK THE BOWLER.
Breaking out of maiden grade in Victoria is tough a the best of times , and the stable have nominated her for several races since Pakenham in search of the right option.
This looks like being Wangaratta tomorrow where she lines up over 1400m with top jockey Linda Meech in the saddle. Meech returned to race riding at Donald yesterday after an injury enforced lay off put her on the sidelines .
It didn’t take long for her to get back into the winners stall however, taking out the opening race on the program with WAHINE for Maher & Eustace, before saluting on stablemate TAKSU a few races later.
Meech will need to be at her savvy best to navigate a sticky draw for FIGHTING FAITH as well as what shapes as a very heavy surface (currently rated Heavy 8) .
“Linda is a very good rider of horses on speed and from out there , she looks like she has no other option than to push forward “ said managing owner Matt Lang.
“FIGHTING FAITH hasn’t had a great deal of luck since moving to Victoria and we have expected her to win at all three starts this prep “.
“I don’t think she was 100% happy on the synthetic surfaces at her last couple, so I am really happy to see her back on the turf ,” added Lang .
“But the run of wet weather in Victoria over the last seven days won’t make it easy , not to mention a wide draw for Linda to deal with as well”.
“The filly has always shown us ability, so hopefully she can tick off that all important maiden win tomorrow and we can look at better options for her going forward,” concluded Lang .
FIGHTING FAITH is currently the $3.80 favourite for the 1400m Fitzgerald Racing 3YO Maiden Plate which is Race 3 on the program , with strong support for top weight CLIFFORD SNOWFLAKE and STOGURSEY PRINCE from the good gate.
FIGHTING FAITH was purchased at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by Lang Brothers Racing and they also own this fillies dam, FAITH IN MY .
FAITH IN MY had a winner last week at Quirindi with TIME OF GLORY , and a win by FIGHTING FAITH at Wangaratta tomorrow will give the mare a 100% runners to winners strike rate.
