Training partnerships have their advantages when it comes to big days with Tom Dabernig and David Hayes heading in different directions on Saturday. The Euroa partnership has highly-touted filly Stay With Me (Reisling Stakes) and dual group 1 winner Criterion in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, while there will be a raft of chances in Melbourne, including Petrology and Firehouse Rock in the Australian Guineas. "Tom is heading up there [to Sydney] to watch Criterion in the Canterbury and hopefully get one into the Golden Slipper," Hayes said. "Criterion has come back a bit strong and is still a bit fresh and we expect him to run well." Hayes believes Sandown Guineas winner Petrology is ready to lift the Australian Guineas. "He was very good first-up and then in the Orr Stakes he got trapped wide and everything went wrong in a slowly run race. He has been working very well at home and I think he is up to these," Hayes said.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Big test for Peeping
The Ron Quinton-trained Peeping has quickly earned herself a reputation as one of the most promising fillies in Sydney and that will be tested in the Fireball Quality at Randwick on Saturday. Quinton would have preferred to give her another run in restricted grade before stepping up to black type level after impressive midweek win at Randwick last month. "There really wasn't another race for her, so she is forced to take the big step out of her comfort zone," Quinton said. "We are definitely going to find out how good she is because there a number of horses with a lot more experience than her in the race and are very well performed."
Bowman gets the call
Luke Griffith was forced to call on an old mate — half a world away — to help him out of a bind with the in-form Just A Girl in the group 3 Wenona Girl Handicap. Having achieved the rare feat of seemingly improving a horse after it has been in the Chris Waller yard — Just A Girl has won both starts for Griffith — the Scone trainer sent an SOS to champion Hong Kong hoop Zac Purton when searching for a rider on Wednesday. "I knew him during his apprenticeship at Grafton and he rode a couple of winners for me ... he's not a bad rider," Griffith joked.
Self Sense is ready
David Brideoake has sent promising stayer Self Sense north in the past, but he expects a completely different horse to the one which filled a placing in restricted winter grade last August. "He's certainly a progressive horse, but we're not sure how far he's going to go," said the Victorian-based Brideoake, whose stayer has won four of his past six starts before the listed Randwick City Stakes. "That is a pretty handy [record] and don't worry he's a better horse this time than what he was when he went out last time. Last time he went to Randwick he ran a great race on fairly soft ground and I expect him to be a better horse this time in. He may go on to something brighter, but really we're testing the water." Brideoake will make it a two-pronged attack at Randwick with Griante entered in the Wenona Girl, set to go around at "pretty good value" according to her trainer. Ladbrokes had her a $9 chance on Thursday evening.
It's Somewhat gets some weight
Godolphin's impressive Liverpool City Cup winner It's Somewhat has been handed a one kilogram penalty for the Doncaster Mile after his impressive win at Warwick Farm last Saturday.
It takes It's Somewhat's weight to 51.5-kilograms for the $3 million feature on the opening day of The Championships.
