Chance to make amends

AT CLUB Menangle today Felicidad will need her share of felicidad so she can provide her connections with felicidad.

Confused…you’re probably not the only one!

Felicidad is a Spanish word, which depending on the context, means luck – which the filly will need her share of – and happiness, which is what connections will feel should the Blake Fitzpatrick-trained pacer emerge triumphant.

Making her debut in Penrith three weeks ago, Felicidad failed to impress by racing greenly and breaking stride before finishing sixth.

Banished back to the trials as a result, the daughter of American Ideal performed well enough last week to earn a racing reprieve.

“She has trialled well, including winning one last month,” Fitzpatrick said. “She did plenty wrong in her first race, but that just comes down to immaturity.

“I’ve worked on a few things with her since and she went fairly well at her trial.”

To be driven by Fitzpatrick’s brother Gavin, Felicidad has drawn to settle in a prominent position from the pole.

Fitzpatrick also has Complete Stranger in the same race, with the filly to be driven by the prominent horseman’s daughter, Zara.

Racing in consistent fashion, including a third three starts ago, Complete Stranger has drawn wide in barrier eight.

Later on the card Zara will partner Apex Stride for her father, with the colt chasing his third win from his six starts.

Drawn barrier two, Apex Stride has been among the placegetters during his last two outings in Newcastle.

“He’s going really well and should be a strong chance again,” Fitzpatrick said. “He will be going forward from there, and if he does find the lead, he will take a lot of running down.”

The father and daughter combo will round out their afternoon with Jalaneel in the final event on the card.

“Barrier six will make it tough for him, but he’s not without his chances,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’ll just come down to how the race is run and what kind of run he gets.”