Savvy Hallie set the pace throughout the Light Fingers Stakes, but her trainer Brad Widdup is comfortable allowing expert jockey Nash Rawiller to call the shots in the Group One encounter facing elite filly Tempted during the Surround Stakes at Randwick.
In the compact field of eight, the three-year-old seems primed to lead, yet Widdup concedes a foe could unsettle the rhythm, trusting horse and rider to respond effectively.
“I’ll leave it up to Nash. You never know, someone might want to go a bit hard this time around,” Widdup said.
“We can only worry about ourselves, and we’re very happy with her. She’s had a trouble free preparation, so fingers crossed she can keep going.”
The select group of eight features Savvy Hallie from post six, topped by Tempted, runner-up in the Everest, Apocalyptic who took the Flight Stakes, and Ole Dancer, Thousand Guineas winner making her initial Sydney appearance.
Rain is on the cards, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, possibly delivering 3mm to 60mm in coming days.
Either scenario suits Widdup fine, as Savvy Hallie performs well on good or heavy going.
No Surround Stakes (1400m) victory on his resume, Widdup was nonetheless present at Crown Lodge for the wins of Portillo (2009) and Parables (2011), viewing Savvy Hallie in the same league.
“Portillo was a good two-year-old and trained on, Parables came later. But I think Savvy Hallie is definitely in their mould,” he said.
“You never get too carried away with this sort of race, but it’s great to have a really good chance.
“She hasn’t gone backwards and you’d like to think she should be competitive.”
Fields out on Wednesday pegged Tempted a $1.60 top pick, Apocalyptic at $4.20, with just Ole Dancer ($8.50) and Savvy Hallie ($9.50) also at single-figure quotes.
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