Friday poised for Challenge on Saturday
2010-03-11T02:17:20+11:0011th March 2010, 2:17 am
By Mandy Cottell
SYDNEY, March 11 AAP - After two preparations putting the polish on the well-travelled Friday Creek, Anne-Maree Robinson believes she has only now got the gelding figured out.
Friday Creek had several trainers, including John O'Shea, Guy Walter and David Hayes, before finding a home with Robinson last year.
His best effort at his initial campaign for the NSW South Coast trainer was a fourth to Mount Verde in Listed company last April before he returned from a spell in August to give Robinson her biggest career win in the Group Three Concorde Stakes.
Friday Creek wasn't disgraced at his three subsequent spring runs but failed to reproduce the firepower he showed first-up.
Robinson is hopeful she has found the reason.
"I've completely worked him out now, he's a sprinter," Robinson said.
"When I first got the horse I was really going on his old form and it looked like 1400 metres was his pet distance.
"But I've worked him out now and I'm just going to sprint him this time.
"I have also found out he is a fresh horse as well."
Friday Creek will get conditions to suit at Randwick on Saturday when he resumes in the Group Two Challenge Stakes over 1000 metres.
In a further boost, Robinson has snared the services of champion jockey Damien Oliver who produced a sensational ride to win Wednesday's Group One Auckland Cup aboard Australian stayer Zavite.
Oliver is in Sydney to ride two-year-olds Beneteau and Crystal Lily in their respective Golden Slipper lead-ups along with the Peter Moody-trained Hanks in the Randwick Guineas.
Robinson was thrilled to secure his services and says her only query with Friday Creek on Saturday is the weight-for-age conditions of the race.
"He's not a weight-for-age horse, he is more of a handicapper but it fitted in with his program," she said.
"Most of the horses in the race are handicappers really."
Two-time Group One winner Typhoon Zed is the class runner in the Challenge Stakes along with the lightly-raced Swift Alliance who will be out to atone for his unplaced first-up run in the Oakleigh Plate.
Stryker and the in-form Winter King will fly the flag for the three-year-olds with last Saturday's Warwick Farm winner Dorf Command and mares Fantene and De Lightning Ridge rounding out the field.
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SYDNEY, March 11 AAP - After two preparations putting the polish on the well-travelled Friday Creek, Anne-Maree Robinson believes she has only now got the gelding figured out.
Friday Creek had several trainers, including John O'Shea, Guy Walter and David Hayes, before finding a home with Robinson last year.
His best effort at his initial campaign for the NSW South Coast trainer was a fourth to Mount Verde in Listed company last April before he returned from a spell in August to give Robinson her biggest career win in the Group Three Concorde Stakes.
Friday Creek wasn't disgraced at his three subsequent spring runs but failed to reproduce the firepower he showed first-up.
Robinson is hopeful she has found the reason.
"I've completely worked him out now, he's a sprinter," Robinson said.
"When I first got the horse I was really going on his old form and it looked like 1400 metres was his pet distance.
"But I've worked him out now and I'm just going to sprint him this time.
"I have also found out he is a fresh horse as well."
Friday Creek will get conditions to suit at Randwick on Saturday when he resumes in the Group Two Challenge Stakes over 1000 metres.
In a further boost, Robinson has snared the services of champion jockey Damien Oliver who produced a sensational ride to win Wednesday's Group One Auckland Cup aboard Australian stayer Zavite.
Oliver is in Sydney to ride two-year-olds Beneteau and Crystal Lily in their respective Golden Slipper lead-ups along with the Peter Moody-trained Hanks in the Randwick Guineas.
Robinson was thrilled to secure his services and says her only query with Friday Creek on Saturday is the weight-for-age conditions of the race.
"He's not a weight-for-age horse, he is more of a handicapper but it fitted in with his program," she said.
"Most of the horses in the race are handicappers really."
Two-time Group One winner Typhoon Zed is the class runner in the Challenge Stakes along with the lightly-raced Swift Alliance who will be out to atone for his unplaced first-up run in the Oakleigh Plate.
Stryker and the in-form Winter King will fly the flag for the three-year-olds with last Saturday's Warwick Farm winner Dorf Command and mares Fantene and De Lightning Ridge rounding out the field.
Click the "like" button on the Punters Paradise Facebook page to receive our news directly to your facebook feed, along with extra photos, discussions, newsletters, free tips and special betting offers.
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Next article: 2010-07-28T06:23:02+10:0028th July 2010, 6:23 am
Moody's colt to miss Bletchingly
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Moody's colt to miss Bletchingly
Star three-year-old Reward For Effort will miss the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield after trainer Peter Moody reviewed the colt's spring plans.