Each of Fever Fury's seven wins have been over the Richmond 330m and she is drawn to ring up number eight after coming up with box two in Wednesday night's Ladbrokes Cash In Free-For-All at the Londonderry circuit.
Fever Fury, who won at her only start from box two, is owned and trained by Michael Hooper, who obtained her as a gift from her breeder.
"I approached Wayne Sugars, who bred Fever Fury, wanting to buy her,'' Hooper said. "Wayne said he would not sell her but providing I promised to give her a good home for life, either under the adoption scheme or as a family pet at my place, I could have her for nothing. "For six months Fever Fury had become something of an enigma on the racetrack and then she came in season in late November. "She had a difficult seasonal spell and did not come good until February. "Her last run was on May 3 over the Richmond 330m trip and that night she finished fifth after having no luck from box eight. "Fever Fury was badly hampered in the run to the first turn but once she got to the fence she rattled home and in another stride or two she would have finished third. "Since that race I have been keeping her in trim by slipping her up a friend's straight track and she is ready to go again.'' Princess Riot has not raced since failing to beat a rival home in a heat of the Richmond Oaks in February but she is ready to win first-up when she exits box two in Wednesday night's 400m Bess Electrical Free-For-All. Before the Oaks heat Princess Riot had won nine of just 12 starts and her unplaced run in that group 2 qualifier should be forgotten. After bungling the start from box eight, Princess Riot was so badly checked at the first turn by a wayward runner she almost fell. "That race took a lot out of her,'' trainer Peter Lagogiane said. "It made her somewhat tentative so I decided to give her a break and allow her time to forget the incident. "Princess Riot is starting to hit her straps again and is trialling well enough to win this race.'' Princess Riot is extremely valuable as a future brood bitch, as she is a litter sister to recently retired group 1 Melbourne Cup winner Whiskey Riot. In recent weeks Lagogiane has been enjoying a tremendous run of success at Richmond, his local track, including six consecutive 400m wins with Zipper It Mate. He could land a double on Wednesday as One Fury, who has box two in the 330m Steeling Riverstone Stakes, looks to be in a "match race'' with Sam Sultana's Cape Fernando. One Fury had five wins and two seconds from seven starts at Richmond, over the 400m journey, before showing his customary early pace to lead before being run down by Beau Herrera over 472m at Bulli on April 25. "One Fury strained a stomach muscle in the Bulli race but it was nothing serious and he is raring to go again,'' Lagogiane said. "I gave him 10 days off and he showed there was nothing wrong with him by trialling fast for me over 330m at Richmond at his most recent hit-out.'' Wednesday's best bet should be Aston Excalibur, who was desperately unlucky when second at Dapto last Thursday and is ideally drawn in box one in the 535m Richmond Race Club Stakes. At DaptoAston Excalibur was last away from box eight, was checked at the first turn and collided approaching the home bend before being beaten six lengths in a slick 29.88. The Jason Fletcher-trained dog has trialled blistering 520m times at Wentworth Park of 29.89 and 29.86 so should have too much class for his fifth grade rivals. Best Bet Aston Excalibur (race 5) Best Value Fever Fury (race 9) Quaddie race 5 - 1, 8, 4 Race 6 - 2, 1, 4 Race 7 - 8, 5 Race 8 - 2, 6, 1 $20 for 37.03%
