Jockey Jason Collett is wary the Rosehill chute start can be a minefield for backmarkers but has faith that talented filly Cigar Flick possesses the right firepower to overcome it in Saturday’s Listed $200,000 Chandon Rosebud (1100m).
Jockey Jason Collett (Pic: Bradley Photos).
The Chris Waller-trained filly showed how brave she is with her rails-hugging first-up win five weeks ago and it also gave Collett valuable insight into her ability to sprint.
Cigar Flick, a winner of two from five, has the outside barrier in the eight horse field so Collett has to bank on some early speed being applied.
“She has drawn a bit of a sticky gate but she has a very good turn of foot,’’ he said.
“She was able to overcome a tricky position we were in first-up. She’s a classy filly and even from that gate she will get her chance.
“There should be some pressure early to find their spots.
“We’re going to need that because as we know with the 1100m at Rosehill off a wide gate it can be difficult to come from behind.”
Though the filly only had three rivals in her first-up win, she was able to sprint home in 32.98 for her last 600m (Punter’s Intelligence) with a last 200m of 11.11.
On that occasion, Collett elected to go for a run inside the leader Epic Proportions that required his filly to dash on demand.
“She was brave and to take the run I did if I didn’t have the horse I wouldn’t even contemplate it,’’ he said.
“It is a tight run but when you have the amount of horse under you then you can make that sort of run happen.
“She doesn’t have a huge amount of size but has an electric turn of foot.”
Collett won the 2020 edition of the Rosebud on Anders for Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, who saddle up favourite Tiz Invincible and Griff in the Listed feature.
Only one filly has won the race to date, She’s A Fox back in 2012. Cigar Flick was $5 with TAB on Friday.
– Racing NSW
