Last weekend showed just how racing can take you from the penthouse to the s**thouse in just moments.
I was extremely confident taking Wicked Intent to the Sires on Saturday. The 1350-metre distance was always a question. Even after the horror barrier draw, I was still confident.
Unfortunately, he didn’t run the trip out. The 1350 metres was too far, and we’ll have to reassess and train him as a sprinter only.
Everything pre-race was saying there’d be no speed, but there was a lot of speed in the race. Pepperano injected a hot pace and while I was happy where he landed under Damian Browne, they were going extremely hard. That high pressure was his undoing.
But I don’t blame the barrier or the way he ran – he had the chance on the turn but wasn’t up to the distance.
He pulled up bright and well, and as a stable, we took a lot out of it. You have to take the good and the bad.
But the JJ Atkins is off for him, given the mile distance. We’ll look for one more short run for him before a spell – something a bit shorter for two-year olds.
The next day, Snippets Caviar won easily at the Sunshine Coast. He hasn’t had the best preparation comparatively, and then came out and easily won the 1200 metres by more than three lengths. He’ll take on metropolitan company next up.
And that’s the great thing about racing. You never know what’s around the corner. That story will continue to the Queensland Oaks this weekend.
I do respect Winx, but I really like John Sargent’s emergency runner, Champion Stage. Assuming she gets a start, she reminds me of the last filly I won on in that race back in 2010, Andrew Scott’s Miss Keepsake.
She’s a rising filly with the right pedigree and just the way she’s such an improver makes me really like her.
The 2200 metres, 200 metres less than the usual distance means that the barrier draw is all important. And Bohemian Lily will set them on a good gallop, a very good gallop.
It’s also a reminder that we need the Eagle Farm track back. Fingers crossed – it’s coming along but it’s obviously well overdue in coming up.
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