Nathan conceded he was “a little bit surprised” SHERLOCK came up as the $3.30 pre-post favourite for the New Brighton Cup at Addington tomorrow in a field which claims some bg names who are also in the early throes of a spring preparation.
(The Real) Sherlock has had just the one trial since his last race which was in the disaster for the stable otherwise known as the Victoria Derby.It had followed a stunning performance in the Derby heat sitting three wide and overwhelming his rivals.
But it is not a case of “out of sight out of mind’ it seems. The price after an absence of 10 months also puts tickets on his impressive previous performances. A quick recap.
*After placing first up as a two year old Sherlock ran second to Don’t Stop Dreaming in the Sires Stakes Final and two starts later second to the same youngster in the Ace of Spades. As a March three year old he won the Alabar Classic at Alexandra Park,then fadied from the breeze in the Northern Derby.
*He did not reappear until his Victorian Derby trip where he won first up but went on to a campaign Nathan would probably remember best for the loss of his hair if he wants to remember at all. After making a big impression in the Vicbred heats, a foot abscess struck on the eve of the $200,000 final forcing his withdrawal. Then after the Derby heat win which rattled the Australian contenders he was taken on in front and his interrupted campaign caught up with him in the final. It was a wrong sort of quinella for his sire, Vincent,whose only unplaced run had been in the Victorian Derby after a mishap in the race. Friday will be Sherlock’s first race since his Derby run.
“Very happy with his work and his trial.Normally we give them two trials before racing them but he is one (of two ) we have in this week.They are ready to go”
Nathan is not concerned about the 10m handicap expecting that to be out of the way soon after the start.
“Obviously he will get better, but he should go a big race in fairly strong field” Nathan said of Jean Feiss’s pride and joy.
As the spring heats up so does Purdon Racing with five acceptors this week. TREACHEROUS BABY ($3.30 favourite) impressed with her sharp run home first up from a second line gate but she has one again.Last week Nathan said they would opt for a patient drive first up and see how she came home. From midfield on the fence she blazed home in a front run 27 400 to be within a nose and a neck of the winner. So what this week ?
“To be honest I would probably opt for a similar approach and take our chance because I think if she is within four lengths of them again in the straight she will go past them this time. But I will leave that up to Blair. She has progressed well from last week”
PARTY CENTRAL is something of a long term maiden and this is the richly bred gelding’s first since May. While in the second division at the finish of the Welcome Stakes in that run he had worked hard parked out and that effort told.At $1.70 there are no juicy odds but back to maiden company with Blair in the cart his reward should finally come.
HIGH STEP might offer some value on her return to racing and immediate past race form is not a good guide to her chances.
“She was off her game in the autumn so we backed off and started again. Work been real good,trial good I think she is back to where she had been” Nathan says. Had been included two Group wins in Australia as a two year old and a fourth in the Ace of Hearts at that age. Again the 10m is not a problem for Nathan and at $4.80 she represents some value.
Then there is the other trotter LOOK TO DA STARS-where his many supporter are often found looking after a race.He looks a shots eye for them on his last start second in the Northern Trotting Derby and the fact he is going to the races on the back of one trial suggests he is ready. But the $2.90 price also hints at a caveat.
“He could easily win.He could run last” Nathan says putting his finger on the problem-reliability. Top runs have been mixed with unforced errors in the running by this talented trotter which makes him one of the hardest of the team to assess.
“I am staying out of the tip but he has done well and he is good enough to win it.”
Pic:Sherlock