12/2/11
Last updated: 12/1/11 8:01 PM
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Perfect Shirl swerved Hong Kong in favor of Argentina
(Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) |
Charles Fipke’s Perfect Shirl, last-out winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly &
Mare Turf at Churchill Downs on November 4, will likely make her next start in
the Group 1 Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini at San Isidro Race
Course in Buenos Aires on December 17.
Trainer Roger Attfield confirmed by phone Thursday afternoon that
preparations are underway for the four-year-old homebred daughter of Perfect
Soul to make her way from Florida to Argentina and gave the filly’s owner all
the credit for coming up with the out-of-the-box idea.
“Mr. Fipke is looking forward to going there and we have put the wheels in
motion,” Attfield explained. “The original plan was to go to Hong Kong (for the
Group 1 Hong Kong Vase on December 11), but we weren’t able to do that. Then,
the next thing I know, Mr. Fipke is suggesting the Pellegrini, so that’s what
we’re going to do.”
The bay filly shipped down to Payson Park in the few days following her 27-1
upset on Breeders’ Cup Friday and had her first breeze back November 23, going
five furlongs over the deep surface in 1:00 1/5, fastest of four moves at the
distance.
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“She had some time off (after the Breeders’ Cup), but she’s in good shape,
and she worked really well the other day,” Attfield said. “It’s going to be an
adventure.”
Perfect Shirl must be EVA-tested on two occasions prior to the race, with a
gap of 14 days between the two samples. One sample will be provided prior to her
departure and one will be drawn while she is stabled at San Isidro.
Tentative plans call for Perfect Shirl to be ridden by leading jockey Pablo
Falero in the 2400-meter event, widely regarded as South America’s most
important race.
