Jumpout has Heatherly primed for Carlyon Stakes defence

Brad Waters - Monday August 21

A smart jumpout and another look at the track will have Heatherly primed for a spirited defence of her Carlyon Stakes crown at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Heatherly is scheduled to gallop at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning. Photo: Darryl Sherer

The mare was well-backed before getting the money first-up in last year's Carlyon Stakes and the daughter of Lonhro will again tackle the 2017 edition fresh.

The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained five-year-old led throughout to beat Saturday's Regal Roller Stakes winner Vega Magic in a Flemington jumpout on August 11. The footage of the jumpout is below.

"Her jumpout was terrific and she has worked well since," Zahra said.

"A bit of give in the ground will be perfect for her on Saturday and we expect her to run well fresh."

Heatherly and experienced stablemate Pin Your Hopes are scheduled to gallop at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning but the speedster has had no trouble with the circuit in her previous runs.

Heatherly went on to run third to Wild Rain in the Group II McEwen Stakes (1000m) second-up last spring before a solid second to Extreme Choice in the Group I Moir Stakes (1000m) at her last run at the track.

A win at Listed level was the best effort of Heatherly's three-start autumn campaign, which ended with a battling eighth to Russian Revolution in the Group I Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill the autumn.

"She has had a good break and come back well and we expect a good run on Saturday," Zahra said.

Ellerton and Zahra will also kick off the spring campaign of Sword Of Light in the Dr Sheahan Plate (1200m).

Sword Of Light was around the mark in her first three autumn runs before hitting her best form over 1600m with two wins at Caulfield in April.

"She's going well but I'm just wondering whether she'll be sharp enough to win first-up over the 1200m," Zahra said.

"She's working well but she'll improve on what she does at Moonee Valley."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.