Trainer Anthony Cummings has spring options galore ahead of him for boom filly Libertini including a potential slot in the $14 million The Everest after she easily ed for her rivals and smashed the clock in Saturday’s Group 2 $200,000 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m).
Libertini has entered $14 million The Everest calculations after her barnstorming Silver Shadow Stakes win. Photo: Steve Hart.
Raced by Gerry Harvey and John Singleton, the exciting daughter of I Am Invincible was far too good for the rest of the three-year-old fillies in the Silver Shadow Stakes and looks a huge spring star to watch.
Her slick win and truly sizzling sectionals have form experts tipping her a genuine sprinter, which could see remaining slot holders for Randwick’s The Everest (1200m) on October 19 give serious consideration to the lightly-raced filly.
“If someone came knocking, I suppose you look at every opportunity but I’d have to have a chat to Gerry about that, we’ve not discussed it,” Cummings said of Libertini and The Everest 2019.
The bookies have reacted accordingly post-the Silver Shadow Stakes results with Libertini firming in from in from $26 to $12 in futures The Everest betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
She has also had her price trimmed for a potential run down the famous Flemington straight on VRC Derby Day (November 2) in the Group 1 $1.5 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) from $12 into $7.
At this stage however Cummings has his eye on the Princess Series of races over the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival culminating with a run over the Randwick mile on Epsom Handicap Day (October 5) in the Group 1 $500,000 Darley Flight Stakes (1600m).
Having now won three of her four career starts, Libertini and jockey Tommy Berry did what an odds-on favourite is expected to do and pulled away from the rest in the Silver Shadow by a huge margin first-up.
“That was very exciting,” Berry said.
“She travelled well for me in the run and when I asked her to go she lengthened for me very well.
“Full of praise for her.”
Berry had hardly touched the filly before the final furlong as she had settled beautifully in third the fence throughout, tracking nicely as Villami led the field around.
When Berry asked, Libertini delivered, roaring away in the last 200m looking the goods with the ease of the win and sharp time of 1:07.93, which was just shy of the track record (1:07.45) Santa Ana Lane set last September with his Group 2 Premiere Stakes win on a Good 3 as a six-year-old at his 29th career start.
“Like a lot of good horses, it actually feels like you’re in slow motion,” Berry said.
“She actually quickens without you feeling it.
“To do it like that and be eased down the last 80 – 100 metres, it’s pretty exciting.
“Even when she pulled away from the main bunch, she felt like she was waiting for them a little bit.
“She’s very quiet, very calm and she relaxes well.
“She’s just a beautiful horse to have something to do with so I’m just hoping to stick with her.
“She’s right up there with some of the better horses I’ve ridden at the same stage.
“She gives me that same feel [of having the x-factor].”
Libertini ($1.50F) had 2.3 lengths to spare on the line over the Godolphin-raced Flit ($8) who was very good late and who looks like she will appreciate more distance.
“She’s a beautiful filly and she’s come back well,” Hugh Bowman said of the runner-up.
“We thought she’d run well and that’s exactly what she did.”
Let It Pour ($13) also ran terrific, quickening well having travelled fourth throughout to run third for trainer Bjorn Baker.
Cummings was non-surprised by the Silver Shadow Stakes win by Libertini who he has been finding it hard to keep a lid on.
“She is that good,” he said.
“Today was another step improving on that and I thought she could win as comfortably as that.
“I didn’t expect the race to be run as quick as it was…but she’s that adaptable that doesn’t really matter.
“She’s got to save some for a couple of weeks’ time.”
Should he follow his original plans, Cummings will race the filly next-up on September 7 returning to Randwick for the Group 2 $200,000 Furious Stakes (1200m) followed by the Group 2 $200,000 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) on September 21 and then into the Flight Stakes 2019.
“I’ve just got to keep her in line, healthy and well,” he said.
“When she gets up to stepping up to a mile I will just change the nature of the work…let her understand what’s required on race day.
“It’s about education more than it is about fitness.
“She’s just very good.”
Pre-nomination Flight Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Libertini installed as the clear $2.80 favourite.
2019 Silver Shadow Stakes Results: Finishing Order
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | LIBERTINI | Anthony Cummings | Tommy Berry | – | 2 | 55kg | $1.50F |
| 2 | 2 | FLIT | James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 2.3L | 7 | 56kg | $8 |
| 3 | 5 | LET IT POUR | Bjorn Baker | Brenton Avdulla | 2.4L | 4 | 55kg | $13 |
| 4 | 4 | VILLAMI | Gerald Ryan | Tim Clark | 2.6L | 3 | 55kg | $17 |
| 5 | 1 | TENLEY | James Cummings | James McDonald | 5.6L | 5 | 57kg | $8.50 |
| 6 | 8 | PRETTY BRAZEN | Tony McEvoy | Luke Currie | 8.9L | 1 | 55kg | $14 |
| 7 | 9 | STEEL DIAMOND | Rick Worthington | Jason Collett | 11.9L | 6 | 55kg | $19 |
| – | 10 | MISTRESS MOUSE | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Jay Ford | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 7 | CATWALK | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 6 | LUCICELLO | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | – | 0 | – | – |
