Draw key as Miss Hellfire pursues Hot Danish Stakes
Connections of Miss Hellfire are banking on an inside barrier draw to help her turn the tables on last start conqueror Olentia when the pair clash again in the Hot Danish Stakes at Rosehill.
Having her first start for Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, Miss Hellfire got back to last from a wide draw in The Nivison (1200m) and made late ground to finish 1-3/4 lengths astern of the winner.
From barrier one in Saturday’s Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m), Archibald is optimistic Miss Hellfire can make the necessary improvement to bridge that gap.
“She was really good last start when she flashed home,” Archibald said.
“From a better draw, I’m sure she will be right in mix.”
Group 2 placed during the Sydney autumn, Miss Hellfire goes into the Hot Danish Stakes with a month between runs but has been given a trial to keep her fitness up to the mark.
Archibald says the mare has been ticking all the right boxes at home and has continued to please them.
“She seems to have come on nicely,” he said.
“She’s new to our stable and we’re learning about her all the time, but we couldn’t fault her.”
Arctic Glamour’s co-trainer Gerald Ryan is likewise happy to see an inside draw for his charge after she endured a tough run from an outside gate when seventh to Saturday’s rival Belclare in The Invitation (1400m).
She will start immediately outside Miss Hellfire and while it will be her sixth run of the preparation, Ryan reports she Arctic Glamour has continued to thrive.
“She is bright as a button. She has copped her racing really, really well,” Ryan said.
“Whether she is quite up to this grade, we’re still finding out. She is having so many hard-luck stories.
“One of the only times she has drawn a barrier this campaign was in the Epsom and she ran super, other times she has drawn out wide.”
Group 1 winner Magic Time is the early Hot Danish Stakes favourite for the Hot Danish Stakes at $2.50 ahead of Belclare ($3.20), with Arctic Glamour at $7.50 and Miss Hellfire a $23 chance.
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