Valley return suits Furnaces

A strong performance behind the world’s best sprinter supports the prospects of Furnaces in the G2 McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley, Australia on Saturday, September 3.

In one of the best runs of his career, Furnaces (John O’Shea/Craig Williams) finished third to Chautauqua in the G2 McEwen Stakes at the same track this time last year.

Chautauqua went on to win a string of G1 sprints, including at the Hong Kong International meeting last December.

Furnaces, meanwhile went for a rest, returning to training in the Autumn with his consistent form including a stakes win at Hawkesbury.

“He’s performed well at Moonee Valley before, which is good because it can be tricky,” O’Shea said.

 “And I’d say he goes into this race as good as he’s ever been at the same stage of a preparation.”

Among Furnaces opponents is the filly Heatherly, a 1000m specialist who is in winning form, and Wild Rain, another who handles Moonee Valley well and is a last start winner at G3 level.

But the Godolphin runner has form to match both fillies, having won three and been placed in another three of her nine starts.

“He’s raced well right from his two-year-old days, he’s trialled nicely coming into this race and he races well fresh,” O’Shea said.

As a juvenile, Furnaces finished on the heels of the placegetters in the G1 Golden Slipper and confirmed the form with victory in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes at his next run.

Lightly raced since then, he has strong prospects from a good post position over a 1000m trip that should suit him well.