Ryan’s and Alexiou filly Facile needs luck to make the Golden Slipper field

Talented filly Facile will need luck to go her way if she is to gain a run in Saturday’s Group 1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill.

The daughter of Trapeze Artist currently sits 29th in the order of entry with $102,250 in prizemoney and faces an uphill battle to make the cut in Saturday’s major juvenile event.

Trainer Gerald Ryan says she’s shown the ability to be competitive against the top two-year-olds in the country but he has a worthy back up plan if she doesn’t make the cut.

“There’s a couple ahead of us in the order of entry so we will need something to go our way to get a run but if she were to get in, she’s shown she can be competitive,” Ryan, who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou, said

“If she doesn’t get a run then the Percy Sykes looks an attractive option for her.

“It’s worth one million so it’s not a bad option.”

Facile arguably holds the title of ‘best maiden in Australia’ after Steel City shook that tag on Saturday and Ryan says her effort behind Learning To Fly last time out suggests a win isn’t far off.

TAB rate Facile as the $8 second favourite in betting for the Percy Sykes Stakes and $26 for the Golden Slipper.

“Her run behind Learning To Fly shows her ability, they went stride for stride and she was just edged out late but was only beaten half a length and she’s the benchmark two-year-old,” Ryan said.

“First-up she didn’t have much luck, she bumped another horse at about the 100 metre mark but still stuck on to run second.

“Then she was wide without cover but was brave and ran well, so she just needs a bit of luck.”

The final field for the Golden Slipper will be released on Tuesday morning.