Tough assignment for talented Spright

While trainer Garry Frazer has no doubt about Spright’s talent, he is under no illusions about how tough it will be to overcome a strong field in the Brian Crowley Stakes.

Spright comes into Saturday’s Listed race at Randwick off an impressive first-up win in a midweek maiden at Rosehill on September 28.

The win was not a total shock given Spright had been placed at Group Three level and finished third behind Omei Sword in February during her two-year-old year.

As well as the winner, that maiden produced a strong form line, with runner-up Suspenders carrying 62kg to win a second consecutive midweek race at Canterbury on Wednesday and fourth placegetter Moqueen winning the Listed Dulcify Quality at Randwick on October 1.

Frazer said running against male horses in the Brian Crowley was not ideal, but he had little choice with her rating.

“There’s no other option because the handicapper gave her a 72 benchmark rating,” Frazer said.

“There’s 17 nominations and there’s only four fillies in the field. It’s a very hard race.”

Heritage Stakes winner Guard Of Honour and third placegetter Hair Trigger are $4.60 equal favourites in all-in betting.

Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have freshened up El Divino for the race after his seventh in the Golden Rose.

He shares the second line of betting at $6 with Godolphin colt Souchez, while Spright is at $15.

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Despite the opposition, Frazer says Spright has had a strong lead-up to Saturday.

“She’s good as gold,” Frazer said.

If she can acquit herself well, Frazer will take her to Melbourne where he is looking forward to racing her against other three-year-old fillies.

The Listed Lexus Hybrid Plate (1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day and the Group Three Crown Resorts Plate (1100m) two days later are among the options.

“I think we’ll learn next time she’s in work how good she is,” Frazer said.

Spright was a $100,000 yearling and is part-owned by the White family, who raced top-line horses Marscay, Triscay and Filante.

Stablemate and veteran sprinter Hurrara is set to have the ninth start of a campaign which started in May in the Listed Lightning (1100m).

The nine-year-old finished fourth in the Group Three Concorde Stakes on September 3 and was third in a 1000m race during the Warwick Farm public holiday meeting on October 3.

“He’s in a good frame of mind,” Frazer said.

“He’s been racing very well I’ve thought.”