Trainer Luke Fernie believes Ripper Farooq is more than capable of producing a strong showing in the upcoming Raconteur Stakes (1400m) at Bunbury, confident the gelding isn’t there to simply make up the numbers.
With one win and two placings from nine starts, Ripper Farooq has already proven competitive at stakes level, having finished in the placings in last year’s Listed Supremacy Stakes (1000m).
He lines up for this Listed assignment following a solid fourth-place effort behind Cosmic Eclipse over 1300m at Pinjarra last month.
This will be the first time Jade Mcnaught takes the reins aboard Ripper Farooq, with the gelding drawing ideally in barrier one.
Although Ripper Farooq is rated the longest price among the 12 runners, Fernie is adamant his runner is in with a genuine shot.
“He’s a good chance tomorrow,” Fernie told TAB radio.
“Barrier one is a big tick for him as well.
“If you look through his last start, the two horses that led, and he sat outside the leader, both dropped out the last 100.
“He’s come on from that run, which he definitely has to.”
Fernie is hoping the inside draw allows Ripper Farooq to be used positively from the jump.
“He gets the opportunity to lead or sit behind the leaders in a race where there could be a decent enough tempo,” he said.
“He should get a nice run.
“Apart from his last start, his form this time in has been really good.”
Fellow three-year-old WA Guineas winner Storyville sits atop the betting market for the $125,000 feature, with Elite Missile ($5.50), Pond Master ($8), and Wind And The Lion ($8.50) also well-fancied.
Fernie also saddles up Desert Whisper in the Donnybrook Glass Handicap (1000m) earlier in the day, with the lightly weighted filly set to carry just 54kg.
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