Racing: Superstar filly faces tricky test in sprint

Western Dream was awesome last Friday. Tonight she may have to be better.

That is the realisation facing champion horseman Tony Herlihy as he prepares New Zealand's new princess of pacing for the $100,000 IRT Sires Stakes Fillies Championship at Alexandra Park.

The race brings together most of the fillies who clashed in the Ladyship Stakes last Friday. On that occasion Western Dream was good enough to start from the second line, work mid-race and then come wide on the home bend and still catch leader Blackbird Fly.

But Herlihy knows tonight's race could be even harder.

While Western Dream has drawn barrier five, second-favourite Blackbird Fly has the ace draw and the gate speed to use it. Alinghi, who was unlucky last Friday, is drawn between them.

And that could make all the difference over the 1700m sprint trip in a race that has always favoured the leaders.

"It won't be easy," Herlihy admitted.

"While she went great last week to win, she is a good stayer and the 2200m suited her.

"This week the draws are really important. If Blackbird Fly can lead she will be very hard to catch, particularly if we have to do some work."

That looks more than likely as Western Dream does not have the naturally high gate speed that would enable her to challenge for the lead early or even get to the parked-out position easily.

"It looks like we might have to hope for a three-wide cart and then, if we have to, sit parked after that," said Herlihy. "It may not worry her because she is so tough and really finds the line but it is never an easy way to win a big race."

If she does have any luck then Western Dream is still the filly to beat. But if she is trapped three wide round even one bend she will lose valuable ground on Blackbird Fly.

The latter looks certain to lead even though she lost the early speed battle to Alinghi last Friday before working forward to take control.

Tonight trainer-driver Barry Purdon will have her right on the bit heading out of the gate and if he leads it is hard to envisage him not trying to lead throughout, making his rivals work just to get close.

The depth of the field would suggest plenty of other winning chances, but it is impossible to go past the two favourites, particularly if they are first and second at the 800m mark.

Alinghi is the most likely upsetter as she was travelling well when checked into a break at the top of the straight last week.

She is very tough and will settle handy, but being off the markers raises the possibility of her getting pushed back if there are early moves.

Lifeswhatyoumakeit, Gretamaro and Tosti Girl, who was a huge third last Friday, look the next-best trifecta hopes.

* Punters jumped on Blackbird Fly when fixed-odds betting on the race opened yesterday morning.

She was moved in from $3 to $2.80, and Western Dream also had support in the early betting.