An influx of Western Australian raiders for Adelaide’s racing carnival has grown with Luke Fernie set to target black-type races with two of his stable stand outs.
Quality mare Laced Up Heels confirmed a second interstate trip following another top run Ascot on Saturday and Be Optimistic is poised to return after a breakout campaign.
Laced Up Heels continued her sharp improvement after coming back winless from a Melbourne campaign and taking time to recover from a couple of minor issues.
The daughter of Toronado ran a close second to Sapphire Street in the Listed Sheila Gwynne Classic (1400m) on the weekend, her second straight runner-up finish after The Joey (1200m).
“If they can get a plane across they will be starting there next Saturday,” Luke Fernie told The Races WA.
“Laced Up Heels will go to the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m), the one that Simon (Miller) won with Lady Cosmology.
“There’s no real races for her here unless she just goes to rating races, but if she was to come out and win that will be something we play by ear.
“She could end up in Sydney or Melbourne, you never know while she’s there.”
With a flurry of stars and impressive up and comers from his stable, Be Optimistic has been a genuine but pleasant surprise packet.
The Blackfriars mare gave Fernie one of his best moments in racing when taking out his hometown Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) last October.
She later progressed to win the Listed Scahill Stakes (2100m) at Ascot and ended a top period of racing with a runner-up finish in the Perth Cup (2400m).
“The Cummings Stakes is for Be Optimistic,” Fernie said.
“She’ll have the one run there and come back for the end of the weight for age races here.
“I just want to dodge the first couple because I think at weight for age she’s not as good as the others.
“Then this (Cummings Stakes) is a group 3 and it would look good on her resume as a broodmare if we can get a result.
“That’s the plan of attack.”
Fernie hopes to secure the services of champion jockey Damian Lane for Laced Up Heels and Be Optimistic.
Fernie joins Perth trainers Simon Miller and Dion Luciani in Adelaide for the carnival.
Miller’s gun mare Amelia’s Jewel and Luciani’s Oscar’s Fortune are set to clash in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) on May 11.
