Paul Messara’s lightly-raced filly Double Ranga will take to the Eagle Farm track this Wednesday seeking back-to-back wins after breaking her maiden status at Canterbury back in March.
Exceed And Excel two-year-old Double Ranga has had just two starts to date, the promising juvenile running fourth to Cape City Flyer on debut in a 1100m 2YO maiden at Canterbury on February 23.
Last start she scored her first turf triumph in the $27,000 Winning Post Restaurant 2YO Maiden (1200m) on March 9, narrowly defeating Flying Zero in the final stride.
Now Double Ranga, purchased for $120,000 at last year’s Australian Easter Yearling Sales, will make it a hat-trick of career starts when she runs in the opening race at Eagle Farm tomorrow.
“I like her,” Messara stated.
“The day she won at Canterbury she beat a smart field and came off a bad alley (10).”
Double Ranga is one of eight final acceptors for the $13,000 Sky Racing 2YO Handicap (1000m).
Other notable hopefuls in the race include Bryan Guy’s Lucky Owners filly Sydney Flower coming off a win at Casino last month and the Barry Baldwin-trained Settheworldonfire who is looking to bounce back after finishing 11 lengths away 16th to stablemate Belle D’Amour in the Listed Lancaster Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.
Drawn in barrier six for the city showdown, Double Ranga is due to be ridden by in-form hoop Damian Browne and Messara is confident she can win being fresh after her four month break.
“She had a jumpout and went fine even though she didn’t win,” Messara said.
“This looks a nice race and she should be hard to beat.”
Her performance in the Sky Racing Handicap tomorrow will indicate what Sydney Spring Racing Carnival campaign Messara sets out for Double Ranga next season.
“She’s a nice filly and I’m getting her ready for the early spring races in Sydney,” Messara said.
“She’ll have a couple of Brisbane runs before she goes back home where she’ll be aimed for The Rosebud and some of the early three-year-old races.”
The $100,000 Listed The Rosebud (1200m) is the final black-type race of the current season, taking place at Rosehill Gardens on July 30.
