Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.
Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m) at Scone.
"She has (been unlucky) but in saying that a lot of it has been self-inflicted," Alexiou said.
"She can get a high head carriage, and she likes a nice, flowing gallop, so a position three-wide will be a good thing for her if she can get in a nice spot and the track is playing that way."
The wide draw of gate 18 for the filly does not overly worry Alexiou, especially as it may improve to 15 if emergencies are scratched.
He explained that the barrier position will not prevent them from proceeding with the first-up run at Scone, which has been a key fixture in their plans.
"At this stage she will take her place. We've had the intent all preparation to run here first-up," Alexiou said.
"She had a very solid trial the other day to make sure she was up to the mark, and there is only the one turn at Scone so hopefully the bad barrier isn't the be-all, end-all.
"If things go the right way, she can run really well in a race like this."
Sequista has Tyler Schiller aboard and was listed at $12 on Friday.
Alexiou looks forward to a productive campaign for the filly regardless of Saturday's result, with options in Sydney handicaps or black-type races up north in Queensland.
"The prizemoney in Sydney is still very good and she is still way down in the benchmarks, she is only a 73 rater," Alexiou said.
"But that's our ambition, to get black-type with her, and we believe on her day she's got that type of ability.
"It's a good place to kick her off at Scone, and I'm sure she's in for a good preparation whatever eventuates on Saturday."
Find the best betting markets for the race ahead of the Denise's Joy Stakes.
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