Racing: Classical on verge of Fillies' Triple Crown

By MICHAEL GUERIN

Maurice McKendry will not let one bad experience stand between Classical and the Fillies' Triple Crown.

The South Auckland juvenile filly was breathtaking when coming from off the pace to win the first two legs of the series at Alexandra Park in the last month.

So it would appear that her task in tonight's $115,000 Caduceus Club Classic, the final leg of a Triple Crown which has never been won, is even easier, as she has drawn perfectly at barrier three.

From there, Classical should settle at least a few lengths in front of arch-rivals Champagne Princess (barrier seven) and Alta Serena (10), and driver McKendry should be able to dictate the race.

The champion driver can choose to try to lead and always has the back-up plan of trailing any intense challenger and then using the passing lane.

But that is where a potential problem rears its ugly head for Classical and her army of supporters - Classical doesn't like the passing lane.

Although the 200m strip of Alexandra Park is usually paved with gold for those who secure it, Classical has ventured into the passing lane only once and the results were disastrous - the only time in her brief career she has finished further back than second.

McKendry tried the short way home in a minor fillies' race last month and Classical froze when she ducked inside her rivals, not even trying to catch them, until McKendry found some clearer air.

That, in part, led to a change of tactics in her next two starts. Classical stayed wider and on both occasions produced undeniable home-straight sprints.

Although that appears to leave McKendry facing a tough choice should Classical be put under pressure in the lead tonight, he hopes it is a bridge he doesn't have to cross.

"I haven't had a good think about the tactics yet but I can't see a reason why she couldn't lead and try and stay there," said McKendry.

"She has never really had the draw to try and come off the gate and lead on race night, but she did at the workouts a few weeks ago and was impressive."

On that occasion Classical led and put a six-length gap between her and her rivals, pacing her last 800m in 56.7s.

"I think that showed she is a good leader and she is the sort of filly who can do anything.

"The beauty of her is she has good speed, is strong and has a lovely pacing technique. She is good-gaited and those sort of horses are very tractable."

And what if Classical is attacked and McKendry has to consider taking a trail and re-entering the passing lane?

"I think she would be all right down there now," he said. "She has learned a lot since that race and feels like a lot better horse all round.

"And I am sure Geoff [Small, trainer] has given her some work coming up the inside of other horses since then."

If Classical does reach the lead tonight, McKendry may not have to worry too much about mid-race challengers.

There are few fillies in the small field tough enough to take her on without ruining their own chances. Lotta Flyin, from the ever-attacking Neil Brady stable, is the only obvious contender to play the iron horse.

Regardless of what run Classical gets tonight, she deserves the $2.50 favouritism TAB bookies impose on her.

She came from a second-line draw to beat an even stronger field over 1700m last week and hit the line like 2200m will suit her better.

"I can't see any reason she won't be as good this week because she has done everything right since last Friday," Small confirmed last night.

While the final group-one race of the season has drawn a class field, it would be a major surprise if the winner came from outside those who made up the trifecta last Friday.

Alta Serena worked hard to lead before being run down late on that occasion and could finish over the top of the favourite if there is too much mid-race pressure.

She is an outstanding filly, rated just below former superstar Iman by their trainer, Brian Hughes, who has trained a legion of top young pacers.

But she will still have to give her key rivals a start and major staying races - and 2200m is a real staying slog for most juvenile fillies - are more often won by the horses saving ground on the markers than those working harder wide on the track.

Champagne Princess is the other logical danger after nearly holding Classical at bay last Friday.

Like Alta Serena, she worked hard early from a widish draw and as a 1:56 miler she has already shown she still can stay.

Her trainer-driver, Jack Smolenski, faces the tough choice of whether to send her forward early from barrier seven and hope to squeeze into a handy spot or ease back at the start and pray for a hot pace and smooth ride home.

The lack of gate speed inside him means he may choose the former option but either way he is likely to be working harder at some stage than Classical, which can't be good for the south's best filly.

Fake Spirit may be coming to the end of her campaign but has raced as though 2200m will suit her and will be driven for one run tonight, so she might be a surprise trifecta chance.