Successful in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes two starts back, the Phillip Stokes trained Ferivia secured victory in the Group 2 MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude, becoming the second Group winner in the last 24 hours for the stable after the success of Snow Mercy overnight in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes.
Scratched from the Listed MRC Jim Maloney Stakes (1400m) last Saturday at Caulfield, the Asten filly was one of just three in the field to start under double figure odds behind race favourite Ole Dancer (Ole Kirk) who was coming off a fifth in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes last time out.
With two late withdrawals at the barriers the field was down to ten with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Bellazaine (Zousain) mustering plenty of pace from one of the outside barriers to go forward and take up the running.
Ferivia settled in fourth on the rail with jockey Lachlan Neindorf giving the filly a cosy run.
With favourite Ole Dancer second last as the field came into the home straight, jockey Blake Shinn started to wind her up but had many lengths to make up as Ethereum Girl (Maurice) commenced her run and looked a leading chance.
Back towards the rail, Ferivia was still making ground and with 200m to run, there were four fillies across the track, with Ole Dancer still two lengths behind that leading group.
When the line was reached, a half-length margin separated the first five with Ferivia holding a narrow winning margin from Ole Dancer with Ciaron Maher’s Salty Pearl (Tagaloa) working into third with Ethereum Girl in fourth.
Having missed the start the week prior may have been a blessing in disguise with Ferivia now set to tackle the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
“She was meant to run last week but we had to scratch her on race morning, but it has turned out to be a blessing,” Stokes said.
“She missed a bit of work, so there is improvement to come and by the time the Guineas is run, she should be on song.
“I don't think the mile will be a problem. They really ran along, and she was strong late and I would like to think she could run out a strong mile.
“She does hit a flat spot and takes a while to wind up, but Lachie knows her well."
Neindorf was always confident the 1400m would not be an issue and that 1600m was also within her grasp.
“I thought I was gone at the 100 (metres), but she changed legs and found again,” Neindorf said.
“She was tough. I've always said from day dot that she would be a 1400-metre to a mile horse, and I feel she's starting to make her presence felt.
“There was a good tempo, and she toughed it out late, and to be honest I felt I was only hitting my straps on the line.
“I think she'll get a mile for sure.”
Ferivia’s Group 3 win took her record to three wins and a second from five starts with earnings of $346,600.
Bred by Queensland’s Mr D Brook, Ferivia is the first stakes winners and one of three winners out of the Not A Single Doubt mare Streetcar Express.
From the extended family of stakes winners Streetcar Magic, Streetcar Isabelle, Streetcar Stranger and Paprika, Streetcar Express foaled a Castelvecchio filly the following season followed by a colt by Rich Enuff. The mare is currently in foal to Blue Gum Farm’s Flying Artie with the foal due this spring.
Ferivia is one of 16 stakes winners for the former Darley stallion Astern headed by Group 1 winners Golden Mile and Affaire A Suivre, with the Group 1 Golden Rose-winning son of Medaglia d’Oro exported early this year to stand at stud in Turkey.
