This weekend presents as a big one with five Group contenders in Sydney for OTI and connections. One of them is well known galloper Selino, who after two fitness-building runs this preparation will now tackle the Group 1 H.E. Tancred Stakes at Rosehill over 2400m.
Having returned after a long break in February this year, Selino so far has competed in the Listed Parramatta Cup and Group 3 Sky High Stakes. Those two runs haven’t been impressive to the eye looking at the results, however the 7yo is a genuine 3200m horse.
“He’s an older horse and we know he needs the distance, he will be better with a few runs under his belt. Going straight to 2400m after his last run, he will be ready to peak over two miles. We just have to keep him fit and have faith in the horse, that he can bounce back and run up to his Melbourne Cup run back in 2021 and obviously his Sydney Cup performance.” said Chris Waller.
“I thought long and hard about whether we run here or wait, but as long as he is finishing off well and we are getting a positive report from his rider, we can go into the Sydney Cup at least knowing that he loves the two mile distance and he has had the right preparation to get him there.”
See the full field and all race details for Saturday’s Group 1 here.
Also returning to Group 1 class this prep is the Price/Kent trained Hezashocka, who surprised many with his brave run in the G1 Champions Stakes during the spring, beating the likes of I’m Thunderstruck and Anamoe.
He returns to his favourite track of Flemington on Saturday, where he will compete in the Group 1 Australian Cup over 2000m. A little disappointing in his first up run in the Blamey, albeit he was never able to get into the race, the 5yo has trained on well at Warrnambool under Matthew Williams’ care.
Mick Price said “He’s been going well since his last run and I have no issues running him in this race. We are hoping to jump well and be in the first dozen and get a good chance to finish off strongly. I think he can finish in the top three if he runs the way we know he can. He’s a Flemington horse and the 2000m suits well. It would be amazing if he could actually win the Australian Cup.”
Click here to see the full field and all race details.
Best of luck to all connection for this Saturday!